The active practice charter: Movement as medicine

Abstract

We are all familiar with the term prevention is better than cure. Physical inactivity is one of the major modifiable risk factors for preventable early death and when done in groups has a wealth of benefits for mental health. However, GPs and their teams have not always felt empowered to encourage their patients to move more. The active practice charter concerns a collaboration between GPs and Sport England that aims to support and inspire practices to take steps towards reducing sedentary behaviour and improve physical activity for staff and patients. The charter celebrates practices that have shown initiative in working towards this ever growing, vital goal for the nation’s health. Healthcare is changing with a push towards lifestyle medicine for all: its benefits are invaluable, the costs are low, and the side effects are minimal, so why not tap into this underused resource?