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Press release
American Academy of Family Physicians and ICAA partner to encourage aging population to be more active
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and LEAWOOD, Kan.- Second only to tobacco, obesity and physical inactivity are responsible for the most deaths in the United States annually, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC and many others in recent years have called for doctors to prescribe exercise to reduce the death and disease associated with these preventable causes. Now the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Leawood, Kan. - based national association of family doctors, and the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), the world's largest trade association for the senior fitness and wellness industry, are taking action on this issue. Through their partnership, these organizations strive to boost physical activity among adults ages 50 and older.
The overarching goals of the AAFP/ICAA relationship are twofold:
- Help physicians take better care of themselves, so they become healthy-living role models for patients.
- Help physicians inform patients about physical activity and aging, such as choosing appropriate exercise and how to participate safely.
Through this relationship, ICAA will provide AAFP members with high-quality information, resources, education and tools about active aging. AAFP members will have access to an online locator of fitness organizations to which they can refer older adults. These fitness organizations will offer physicians and their older patients age-appropriate facilities and services. In addition, the ICAA Web site will host two special sections: one section geared towards physicians, the other towards older adults. These sections will feature answers to frequently asked questions about aging and exercise, as well as other relevant topics. This information is available to family physicians at www.aafp.org/x29787.xml.
"Family physicians receive 210 million office visits each year," says Michael Fleming, M.D., Board Chair of the AAFP, "and each visit represents an opportunity for change." Since October 2003, Fleming has personally committed to and championed Americans in Motion (AIM), a 10-year AAFP initiative designed to improve the physical activity, nutrition and emotional well-being of individuals, families and communities. "The AAFP created AIM to encourage and support individual family physicians addressing fitness in their practices and communities," says Fleming. "This partnership with the ICAA fits perfectly with our AIM initiative and will provide family physicians with the tools they need to positively affect physical activity levels."
"In 2003, the ICAA and three other organizations called on physicians to help solve the prevalence of ill health among older adults in the United States by prescribing exercise and other lifestyle changes," says Colin Milner, the ICAA's chief executive officer. The call to action recommended 10 actions physicians could take. These actions included partnering with national fitness/wellness industry associations, becoming more educated about exercise and its benefits, and becoming role models by embracing active lifestyles, all actions the AAFP is undertaking. "We commend the AAFP for showing leadership within the medical community," says Milner. "We're delighted to work with this organization and its members to improve physical activity among older Americans."
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About the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 94,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical specialty organization devoted solely to primary care. Please visit www.aafp.org for more information about AAFP.
About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
The ICAA is the world's largest association dedicated to changing the way we age by uniting and working with professionals in the retirement, assisted living, recreation, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness fields. It connects a community of like-minded professionals who share the goals of changing society's perceptions of aging and improving the quality of life for aging Baby Boomers and older adults within the six dimensions of wellness (emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social.) The council supports these professionals with education, information, resources and tools, so they can achieve optimal success with this growing market.
Contact: Kristin Robinson
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237 ext. 5221
kristinr@aafp.org
Contact: Colin Milner
International Council on Active Aging
(866) 335-9777
colinmilner@icaa.cc
