PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Emmanuel Stamatakis
AU  - Richard Weiler
TI  - Prevention of cardiovascular disease: why do we neglect the most potent intervention?
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.2009.186593
DP  - 2010 Feb 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - 261--262
VI  - 96
IP  - 4
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/96/4/261.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/96/4/261.full
SO  - Heart2010 Feb 01; 96
AB  - Despite a large volume of evidence supporting its cardioprotective properties and its other numerous established health benefits, physical activity is not a serious prescription option for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, health services increasingly focus on pharmacological prevention without considering properly the long-term consequences of medication. Ethical and feasibility considerations suggest that evidence on the protective value of physical activity may need to be evaluated using criteria different from those applying to pharmacological trials. The collateral health benefits of physical activity prescription support its use as standard option in preventive health care.