Movement is medicine, but few doctors prescribe it.
What’s happening: A new editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says prescribing exercise should be a first-line treatment for depression, citing physical activity’s proven mental benefits, on par with medication or therapy.
Yet, 92% of mental health professionals report no training in exercise prescription, and 41% never prescribe it at all.
Dosing. Instead of suggesting patients “be active,” the authors call for structured plans—using the FITT framework (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type)—supported by referrals to exercise professionals and tech-enabled follow-up.
Red flag. The paper says failing to prescribe workouts risks denying patients proper care. A fix, integrating exercise science into medical training, clinical guidelines, reimbursements, and psychiatric practice could elevate the standard.
Takeaway: A no-brainer, patients and providers should put movement at the center of mental health care.
