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Exercise: an essential evidence-based medicine

Anita Green, Craig Engstrom and Peter Friis
Med J Aust 2018; 208 (6): . || doi: 10.5694/mja18.00033
Published online: 2 April 2018

Despite all the evidence, doctors do not regularly prescribe physical activity and exercise

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games are a celebration of sporting excellence. Over 4000 elite athletes from 70 countries will compete in 18 sports and seven para-sports. The extraordinary performances of these athletes will be the culmination of long term dedicated training programs. Many of the next generation of elite Australian sportsmen and women will be inspired by these athletes and para-athletes and will passionately commit to specialised training and exercise regimes to pursue their sporting dreams. Sadly, there is no evidence, at a population level, that spectators enjoying the performances of highly trained athletes will increase their own physical activity and exercise patterns long term.1


  • University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD



Competing interests:

Anita Green is Chief Medical Officer of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

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