Healthcare, Community and Fitness Professionals Work Together


BY PERRY TUCCIARONE T


his past year has been a fasci- nating year where I observed in- creasing numbers of physicians


and other healthcare providers work- ing with fitness industry profession- als helping Canadians improve their health through physical activity. Healthcare professionals and fitness


professionals have always promoted the benefits of physical activity and of leading a healthy lifestyle. But in the past they have worked toward this goal independently and with limited results. What we are now seeing is the two communities working togeth- er to build programs that benefit the healthcare of Canadians. In 2018, I believe that further


strides will be made as various inde- pendent sectors find more cohesion as they work together to improve health- care for Canadians of all ages. It is well known that the cost of be-


ing inactive is high. There is now data that projects future costs and that makes it abundantly clear that now is the time to act:


• Treating chronic diseases associ-


ated with being overweight will cost the Canadian economy approximately $33.7 billion each year. (World Obesity Federation)


• 26.7 per cent of Canadians were


obese in 2015, and approximately sev- en million Canadians are currently overweight. (Statistics Canada)


A variety of programs, from nation-


al to local to facility-specific, really bodes well for 2018 and beyond. The common thread is healthcare profes- sionals working with community and fitness professionals to promote physi- cal activity. For example:


• Prescription to Get Active is a na-


tional program with a unique and ex- citing integrated partnership between family doctors, other health care pro- viders, community, recreation and fit- ness organizations that uses physical activity prescriptions to promote phys- ical activity within the community.


• Exercise is Medicine Canada is a


national program that utilizes certi- fied exercise professionals to serve as important resources for Canadians and their healthcare providers. Physical activity and exercise is ad- dressed in the healthcare setting.


• Activate Aurora This Ontario


Trillium Foundation funded cross- sectorial program is designed to make Aurora, Ontario, “Canada’s Most Active Community.” The education, health care, sport and recreation sec- tors are working together and encour- aging citizens to be more active.


• The Prescription...to Physical


Activity...to Better Health is a YMCA Peterborough (Ontario) program. Family doctors, nurse practitioners and registered dietitians write pre- scriptions for physical activity that can be redeemed at the Peterborough YMCA.


Perry Tucciarone is the director of busi- ness development & national accounts for Merchant Treasury Soſtware Systems, a pro- vincial councillor at Fitness Industry Council of Canada and the project lead of the Ontario chapter of Prescription to Get Active. Contact him at perry.tucciarone@merchanttreasury. com or www.merchanttreasury.com.


Perry Tucciarone


“In 2018, I believe that further strides will be made as various independent sectors find more cohesion as they work together to improve healthcare for Canadians of all ages.”


January/February 2018 Fitness Business Canada 27


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