Counseling on physical activity to promote mental health: Practical guidelines for family physicians.

The physical health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) are well documented.1 Numerous articles in Canadian Family Physician have articulated the need to increase PA counseling for the management and prevention of physical illnesses.2-6 Evidence also indicates that PA is effective in the treatment and promotion of mental health.7,8 Given that family physicians are a preferred source of health information and the most common treatment provider for mental health complaints,9,10 increased integration of PA counseling into primary care could serve to promote both physical and mental wellbeing. Counseling on PA is relevant for most patients, as more than half of Canadians are not sufficiently active to achieve physical or mental health benefits.11