Written by National Wellness Institute, August 1, 2014

We all know that exercise is good for us, but when was the last time your doctor prescribed it?

According to a recent Queensland University of Technology study, women could benefit from actually being prescribed “exercise.” Specifically, high-intensity exercise is both good for women’s overall physical and mental health.

While health professionals often encourage exercise, they could go a step further and actually prescribe tailored exercise programs, according to the authors of the study. The study looked at the health of women over 50 for a period of five years and found that 30-45 minutes of somewhat strenuous exercise per day is most beneficial (this recommendation is more than the previously recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day). The researchers found that these older women were capable of undertaking a range of activities beyond simply walking such as jogging, running, hiking, swimming, and bike riding.

The researchers’ final recommendation: Doctors should be developing and prescribing exercise programs that are home-based and easy to incorporate as part of everyday activities.

Debra Anderson, Charlotte Seib, Laura Rasmussen. Can physical activity prevent physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women? Maturitas, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.06.010