Promoting Physical Activity in a Primary Care Practice: Overcoming the Barriers

Along with proper diet and avoidance of tobacco use, physical activity is extremely important to maintain and improve overall health of the individual and population. Despite evidence for the cost-effectiveness of physical activity counseling in primary care, only one-third of patients report that they received physical activity counseling by their primary care physician (PCP). Both PCPs and patients face numerous barriers to addressing insufficient physical activity. To assist patients in overcoming their barriers to regular physical activity, the PCP should assess and address the patient's specific barriers to physical activity and counsel patients about the most common general barriers, such as lack of time, knowledge, and motivation. Numerous benefits and barriers are present, and the PCP should understand them and use the information to better counsel patients regarding the benefit of and need for regular physical activity. Brief counseling is an efficient, effective, and cost-effective means to increase physical activity and to bring considerable clinical benefits to various patient populations.