--- title: 3 Reasons why Exercise is Medicine description: 3 reasons why exercise is medicine - type two diabetes Alzheimer's osteoporosis prevention treatment prescription image: https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hubfs/Female%20trainer%20helping%20female%20client%20lifting%20weights%20in%20gym.jpeg --- Oct 31, 2022 1:18:35 PM # 3 Reasons why Exercise is Medicine by the BODiWORKS Institute team [** Next So much can IMPROVE when we Regain MUSCLE ](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/so-much-can-improve-when-we-regain-muscle) [All ](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog) [Prev ** Special Needs - be open to Surprises, 20 years in Review PT 2 ](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/special-needs-development-its-a-marathon-not-a-race-0-0) ![3 Reasons why Exercise is Medicine - featured image](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hubfs/Female%20trainer%20helping%20female%20client%20lifting%20weights%20in%20gym.jpeg) **What if there was a way to prevent, or even treat, some of those health issues we are told about?** You have probably heard about the importance of exercise, but *have you ever* stopped to think about the potential of exercise to be a **form of medicine**? Over the last several years research has proven that exercise is both a viable and effective form of medicine. In many cases exercise can be just as effective (if not more sometimes) a treatment as medications, without the negative side effects. *Two important factors* to remember about “exercise” however: It mainly helps if it is **sustained (regular)** and **prescriptive (for you specifically).** There are many chronic health conditions that can both be prevented and treated through exercise. ***Here are three:*** 1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 25% increase in anxiety and** ****depression** rates worldwide! While the mechanisms behind depression are not yet fully understood, decreased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been linked to depression, which is why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a popular form of treatment for depression. However, SSRIs are only 20% more effective than placebo treatments (National Library of Medicine, 2020). In addition, they often come with an extensive list of side effects including, nausea, vomiting and weight gain (National Library of Medicine, 2020). Fortunately, exercise has proven to be an effective form of treatment for depression. Netz’s 2017 review of the literature concluded that exercise was an effective form of treatment for depression, either as a stand-alone treatment *or* in addition to antidepressants. 2. **Type 2 diabetes** is caused by increased blood sugar levels which cause increased insulin levels and eventually lead to insulin resistance. According to Diabetes Canada, exercise can work just as well as medications in controlling Type 2 diabetes. It is also noted as an effective way to prevent developing diabetes in the first place. In some cases, with regular exercise Type 2 diabetes can be reversed.![pd lat pull-1](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pd%20lat%20pull-1.jpg?width=172&height=246&name=pd%20lat%20pull-1.jpg) Managing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are even more important as it relates to the aging process in our brains. Some researchers have begun to refer to **Alzheimer’s Disease as Type 3 diabetes** due to the apparent link between these metabolic conditions. While the link between the two is not yet fully understood, what we do know is that increased blood sugar and insulin levels can upset the balance of our brain biochemistry leading to deterioration. Further, individuals with diabetes are more likely to have conditions such as heart disease or stroke which can further damage the brain by way of compromised blood vessels. Like with Type 2 diabetes, exercise has been shown to be an effective treatment to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the first place by as much as 50% (Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation) **3. Osteoporosis** is a disease in  which the bone becomes more porous  leading to an increased likelihood of  fractures. More than  just walking -  **Specific weight bearing exercises are required** to help stress and strengthen the bones, causing them to remodel and get stronger. In fact, Osteoporosis  Canada recommends regular exercise to all individuals with osteoporosis, including those who have had previous spinal or hip fractures. Through exercise ![Diagnosis - Osteoporosis. Medical Concept with Blurred Text, Stethoscope, Pills and Syringe on Grey Background. Selective Focus.](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Diagnosis%20-%20Osteoporosis.%20Medical%20Concept%20with%20Blurred%20Text%2c%20Stethoscope%2c%20Pills%20and%20Syringe%20on%20Grey%20Background.%20Selective%20Focus..jpeg?width=230&height=152&name=Diagnosis%20-%20Osteoporosis.%20Medical%20Concept%20with%20Blurred%20Text%2c%20Stethoscope%2c%20Pills%20and%20Syringe%20on%20Grey%20Background.%20Selective%20Focus..jpeg)bone loss can be slowed, as well as increased strength and balance reduce the risk of future falls. The *good news* is our **bodies are very adaptive**! It is never too late to start exercising and working towards better health. The key is to get help, start small and stick with it! Here at Bodiworks we have programs to help all individuals reach there health goals. [Our RENEW program,](https://www.bodiworksinstitute.com/prescribed-movement) is specifically targeted to adults aged 40 and older, and provides one on one exercise counselling to help meet your goals, no matter what your health concerns are.   References: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/#:~:text=With%20antidepressants%3A%20About%2040%20to,within%20six%20to%20eight%20weeks](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/#:~:text=With%20antidepressants%3A%20About%2040%20to,within%20six%20to%20eight%20weeks). [https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide](https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5430071/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5430071/) [https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html](https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html) [https://www.diabetes.ca/managing-my-diabetes/tools---resources/physical-activity](https://www.diabetes.ca/managing-my-diabetes/tools---resources/physical-activity) [https://behavioroptions.com/the-connection-between-physical-activity-and-behavior/](https://behavioroptions.com/the-connection-between-physical-activity-and-behavior/) [https://osteoporosis.ca/exercise/](https://osteoporosis.ca/exercise/) [https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-dementia-diabetes-cognitive-decline-ts.pdf](https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-dementia-diabetes-cognitive-decline-ts.pdf) [https://alzheimersprevention.org/4-pillars-of-prevention/exercise-and-brain-aerobics/](https://alzheimersprevention.org/4-pillars-of-prevention/exercise-and-brain-aerobics/) ** ** ** ** ** ** ** [ the BODiWORKS Institute team ](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/author/the-bodiworks-institute-team) #### Related posts ##### [Injuries - can be a starting commitment to Prescribed Exercise](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/injuries-can-be-a-starting-commitment-to-prescribed-exercise) **When was the last time you HURT yourself?** **3 March, 2020 ##### [Effective Training to Slow the Aging Process in Men](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/effective-training-to-slow-the-aging-process-in-men) We can effectively *challenge* the aging paradigm that ‘everything gets worse as we age’. For men, the feeling that... **15 May, 2026 ##### [Eat your way to a Healthy Gut](https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/eat-your-way-to-a-health-gut) **10 June, 2020 Write a comment ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "the BODiWORKS Institute team", "url" : "https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/author/the-bodiworks-institute-team" }, "dateModified" : "2022-10-31T21:24:19.161Z", "datePublished" : "2022-10-31T17:18:35.000Z", "headline" : "3 Reasons why Exercise is Medicine", "image" : [ "https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hubfs/Female%20trainer%20helping%20female%20client%20lifting%20weights%20in%20gym.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/blog/3-reasons-why-exercise-is-medicine", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.bodiworksinstitute.com/hubfs/BI%20logo%20transparent%202025%20a.png" }, "name" : "BODiWORKS Institute" } } ```