Dr Isobelle Smith, a general practitioner and endocrinologist, believes exercise as a treatment option has not received enough attention. <\/p>\n
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe need to think of exercise as a therapeutic intervention like we would in medicine,\u201d Dr Smith told 7NEWS.
<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore as a doctor<\/a>, we need to prescribe it like we would in medicine how much, how often and what dose.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith, who specialises in hormonal and metabolic health, said exercise can offer benefits comparable to certain medications in treating and managing chronic conditions.
<\/p>\n \u201cWe know exercise<\/a> has similar efficacy to certain medications in conditions like depression, high blood pressure and preventing progression to type 2 diabetes,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n People with osteoporosis and those recovering from heart attacks or strokes may also benefit from appropriately prescribed exercise.
<\/p>\n Be the first to know: Add 7NEWS as your preferred news source on Google \u201cI would never say to a patient here\u2019s some medicines just take them when you feel like it,\u201d she said.
<\/p>\n \u201cI would tailor it to the individual depending on what their particular issues are.\u201d
<\/p>\n But despite growing awareness of the benefits of exercise, research led by Dr Smith has found that doctors continue to face several barriers to prescribing it.<\/p>\n The survey of 118 Australian<\/a> doctors found more than half doubted patients could meet Australian Institute of Health and Welfare exercise guidelines. <\/p>\n Many believed patients were simply not interested in exercising.<\/p>\n Doctors\u2019 own exercise habits also helped shape their perceptions of patients\u2019 willingness to be active.
<\/p>\n Short appointments and the cost of supervised exercise sessions also present barriers to exercise prescriptions.<\/p>\n Why doctors aren\u2019t prescribing exercise<\/p>\n Dr Smith believes some doctors may be underestimating patients\u2019 willingness to exercise, particularly when they have the right support.<\/p>\n \u201cUpwards of 95 per cent of patients are interested in doing physical activity rather than taking a medicine so we need to educate doctors that actually patients want to be doing this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Exercise physiologist Jessica Coombe told 7NEWS she\u2019d seen similar willingness among her own patients.<\/p>\n \u201cI find that a lot of patients are really quite willing… if we educate these patients and we present all of their options, they are really quite inclined to give this a go,\u201d she said.
<\/p>\n Coombe said exercise can also improve patients\u2019 strength, bone density and ability to carry out everyday activities, helping to improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re never too far behind to ever, ever start. There\u2019s always a starting point,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The cost barrier to exercise<\/p>\n But Dr Smith warned that prescribing exercise alone is not enough, with the cost of professional support leaving some patients behind.
<\/p>\n \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have physical activity be something that only the wealthy and high socioeconomic groups can afford,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She is calling for greater support from the government and the community to make exercise programs more affordable and accessible.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about doctors prescribing exercise,\u201d she said.
<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to have better community and government initiatives to support people.\u201d
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Dr Isobelle Smith specialises in hormonal and metabolic health. Credit: 7NEWSExercise as medicine<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792835175_976_google-icon.84c242a8..png\"){kind=icon}
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People with osteoporosis and those recovering from heart attacks or strokes may benefit from appropriately prescribed exercise. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n![\"Jessica\u00a0Coombe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/8ca1d12b6565e64932342d1d594862285a6f3789.png\")
Jessica\u00a0Coombe said exercise can also improve patients\u2019 strength and bone density. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/99ea767450a5608f7709c56582077241e81cd1ac.png\")
Dr Smith warned the cost of professional support is leaving some patients behind. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n