Prescribing Movement: Dr. Lucas Carr on exercise as medicine for chronic disease prevention

University of Iowa College of Public Health

This episode discusses physical activity and its role in preventing chronic disease, featuring an interview with Dr. Lucas Carr, an associate professor of Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa and leading researcher in lifestyle interventions and health behavior change. Key points include: Dr. Carr's research focuses on the behavior science behind habit formation and helping people find enjoyable, sustainable ways to be physically active as a means of prevention. His team has implemented a system to treat physical activity as a "vital sign" in healthcare settings, screening patients and connecting inactive individuals with free health coaching resources. Data from over 60,000 patients shows those who are physically active (150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous activity) have significantly lower risks of 19 different chronic health conditions. Practical advice is to find physical activities you genuinely enjoy, as you're more likely to stick to something you find pleasant and rewarding. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #exercise #activity #health