RPM 125-2 - 1385-6.indd

Sao Paulo Med J. 2007;125(2):115-21. R E V IE W A R T IC L E Marcos Ausenka Ribeiro Milton de Arruda Martins Celso Ricardo Fernandes Carvalho The role of physician counseling in improving adherence to physical activity among the general population Health Promotion Center, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil The regular practice of physical activity at appropriate levels ensures various benefi ts for the individual over the short, medium and long terms. It is therefore important in health promotion. On the other hand, sedentary behavior has reached alarming levels among the general population, which qualifi es it as a serious health problem of endemic proportions. The present review describes public health problems consequent to sedentary behavior and the importance of physician counseling for change their patients’ behavior and making them more physically active on a regular basis. Models and behavioral theories are presented to facilitate physicians’ understanding of how to approach patients during clinical practice. We also describe programs conducted in many countries based on physician counseling for reducing sedentary behavior, and we present many tools used to quantify and qualify patients’ attitudes towards becoming more physically active. Through understanding the barriers faced by patients, we suggest methodologies that will enable physicians to use physical activity promotion appropriately. We hope that this will provide support for physicians in conducting physical activity counseling, as a means for improving the health of the population.