DB'S MEDICAL RANTS

Internal medicine, American health care, and especially medical education

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My suggested New Year’s resolution for physicians and patients

Exercise!

This should come as no surprise to regular readers.  I admit to an exercise obsession.  Each day I make plans to do something.

As I read the research, exercise is the best preventive tool we have.  While exercise alone cannot create weight loss, it does make it easier.  Most committed exercisers start to modify their diets towards more healthy eating (I will let you define healthy as there are varied implications of the phrase healthy eating).  Exercise clearly helps with weight maintenance.

You should move significantly each day.  For some walking is the key; some love running; others do biking or the elliptical machines or even swimming.  But regardless, move each day.  I like the 10,000 steps goal, as my personality drives me to reach that almost every day.

You should do some strength training.  Combinations of machines, dumbbells, barbells, TRX straps, body weight exercises (like push ups and crunches), all make a difference in bone health, muscle mass and decreasing fat mass.

You want your physiologic age to remain younger than your chronological age.  Exercise makes a huge difference.

So do yourself a favor and exercise.  The major side effect is an improved sense of well being.

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