Physicians in Vermont are prescribing outdoor activities to patients this summer as a way to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent health issues.
Doctors in the Green Mountain State have free passes to Vermont State Parks to hand out to patients. They were provided with the passes by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
These “prescriptions” follow the principles of Exercise in Medicine (EiM), a global health initiative to promote physical activity.
“Studies have demonstrated that outdoor exercise is associated with increased energy and revitalization and decreased depression and tension,” said Dr. Elisabeth Fontaine, a physician at Northwestern Medical Center and a member of the Vermont Governor’s Council. “The sun also helps to create through your skin Vitamin D3, which is important for bone health and metabolic function.”
To learn more about Vermont State Park, visit www.vtstateparks.com.