Summary: Around 11 million Australians have one of eight major chronic conditions – that’s almost half the population. Conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental illness can develop in many ways but lack of physical activity is a primary risk factor. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has called chronic disease “the biggest health challenge that Australia faces” but is that message motivating us to make lifestyle changes and exercise more? In part two of Insight’s exercise special - we examine the role of exercise in treating chronic health conditions and ask, is exercise really medicine?
