Governor Perdue Declares May Exercise is Medicine Month in Georgia

ATLANA - Governor Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation today declaring May Exercise is Medicine Month in Georgia. Exercise is Medicine is a national program, founded by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, which encourages consumers to speak with their physicians about an appropriate level of exercise, plan their exercise regimen, track it and stick to it more easily.

“Exercise is Medicine Month highlights the importance of physical activity as an integral part of maintaining overall wellbeing,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I am proud to sign the proclamation that encourages all citizens to participate in activities and observances relating to Exercise is Medicine Month in the interests of better health and quality of life for all.”

The proclamation states that all citizens are encouraged to speak with their physicians about how physical activity and exercise may help treat or prevent numerous chronic conditions, such as hypertension, cardiac disease and diabetes. For someone in good health, the recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, which can easily be achieved in 30 minutes of activity and 10 minutes of stretching five times a week.

“At Coca-Cola, we encourage our associates to lead positive lifestyles which includes staying active, so we are thrilled that Exercise is Medicine Month is now a state-wide initiative that will reach all Georgia citizens,” said Celeste Bottorff, Vice President, Living Well, Coca-Cola North America. “We understand how important it is to participate in regular physical activity and make informed choices, as calories consumed versus the number of calories expended remains the core of effective weight management.”

Exercise is Medicine was initially introduced to physicians nationwide with a goal of increasing patient-physician dialogue around the importance of physical fitness. In order to help patients stick to their regime and provide valuable tools about physical activity, the ACSM and The Coca-Cola Company recently published a downloadable “toolkit” available at www.exerciseismedicine.org. The toolkit includes step-by-step instructions for consumers to work with a health care provider to determine the right dose of exercise.

Visit www.www.exerciseismedicinemonth.org to download a community toolkit, which explains how to spread the word about Exercise is Medicine Month in your community. This toolkit also includes My Exercise Plan, physical assessment tests and tools to starting an effective exercise program.