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Editorial
Tomorrow's doctors want more teaching and training on physical activity for health
  1. Scott Alexander Osborne1,
  2. Jacob Matthew Adams1,
  3. Samantha Fawkner2,
  4. Paul Kelly2,
  5. Andrew D Murray2,
  6. Christopher W Oliver2
  1. 1College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  2. 2Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  1. Correspondence to Scott Alexander Osborne, 6 Observatory Lane, Glasgow G12 9AH, UK; scottosborne1993{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096807

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    Physical activity (PA) promotes good health, and the challenge of physical inactivity is a major global issue.1 PA levels in the UK remain low, with many not achieving the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation of at least 150 min per week of moderate-intensity PA.2

    With limited funds and increasing rates of non-communicable disease, the NHS is prioritising more cost-effective preventive approaches.3 PA is preventive and cost-effective. Doctors have an important role in PA promotion as they provide a point of contact for individuals who are healthy, at risk or have diagnosed chronic illnesses. Doctors are also trusted sources of health information.4 ,5 Therefore, training of medical professionals is key to strategies for increasing PA levels.5 ,6 Tomorrow's doctors should be adequately trained to discuss, advise and engage in the topic of PA.

    Gap in the Edinburgh Medical School Curriculum

    PA promotion and prescription should be a fundamental element for all medical school curricula. Despite this, in 2015, many medical schools including the University of Edinburgh (UoE) Medical School had no PA content on the …

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter Follow Paul Kelly at @narrowboat_paul, Andrew Murray at @docandrewmurray and Christopher Oliver at @CyclingSurgeon

    • Contributors PK, SF and CWO formulated the idea. All authors were involved with the drafting, reviewing and finalising of the manuscript.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval Ethics approval was granted by the Moray House School of Education Research Ethics Committee.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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