EIM Expert Says Regular Exercise Can Improve Quality of Life

We can prevent being beaten by diseases! Discover the many benefits of doing regular exercise to improve your and your family's health!

Press Release:

Manila, Philippines— In the recently concluded Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO) 20th Annual Convention, Exercise is Medicine's (EIM) Program Officer, Dr. Mark Stoutenberg, Ph.D., MSPH, presented 'Exercise is Medicine & Cardiovascular Disease Outcome'. During his talk, he shared that all healthcare providers should integrate prescription of physical activities and exercise as important factors in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

Since its inception in 2007, EIM has been actively building a framework and raising awareness of the multiple benefits of physical activities. As an international initiative promoting for physical activities to be considered by health care practitioners as a vital measure in disease prevention and treatment, EIM has been expanding across the globe. Right now, EIM has developed presence in over 40 countries, with 7 Regional Centers in North America, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Africa, and Australia.

On its first anniversary here in the Philippines, the local EIM has invited Dr. Stoutenberg, to share the program’s efforts in promoting the involvement of the different groups of professionals--from health care practitioners to research scientists, to physical fitness experts--in the future development and evaluation of EIM in the country.

Select representatives of EIM Philippines led by the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity with support from Coca-Cola Philippines were sent to EIM Singapore earlier this year to undergo some seminars with the objective of organizing training sessions for local healthcare practitioners and physical fitness professionals and help them align their programs with EIM's vision-mission. 

In July 2014, WHO launched NCD Country Profiles 2014 as part of a sustaining campaign of United Nations to battle the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).  Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's Director General disclosed that despite the alignment to WHO Global NCD Action Plan 2013- 2020 by many countries, progress is unsatisfactory.

According to the said survey, there have been a total of 571,000 deaths caused by NDC's in the country. This equates to 67% of total deaths for the past year-- a 6% increase from 2010's NCD Country Profile. Stated in the same research is the increasing premature mortality due to NCDs. Such statistics has driven EIM to further their presence in the country.

The first roll-out of training sessions planned by EIM Philippines was held last August 28 and 29, 2014. A total of 18 participants-composed of 12 doctors from varying specializations, and 6 fitness professionals attended the training.

“The (EIM) program is very promising, and we are looking for a lot of professionals in spreading the advocacy of Exercise is Medicine," said Dr. Sheila Lim, a member of EIM Philippines and a Fellow of Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 

Lim also shared that they are also looking into expanding into provinces and educating not only the professionals but the patients as well.