A US medical research project has secured a $3.4 million grant to test a simple idea: prescribing exercise as part of routine healthcare to prevent and treat chronic diseases. Findings from this study could guide Thailand as it faces rising rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
The NIH funding supports the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville’s Exercise is Medicine Greenville program. The initiative connects patients with chronic conditions to accessible, community-based activities at local YMCAs, aiming to weave physical activity referrals into primary care. Researchers will measure referral rates, cost-effectiveness, and impacts on blood pressure, cholesterol, and body weight. The project unites USC School of Medicine Greenville, Prisma Health, the YMCA of Greenville, and Foothills Area YMCA, reflecting a strong alliance between medical and community partners. Research coverage notes that this work underscores the idea that consistent physical activity can prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic diseases.
Access to exercise regardless of income is central. Local YMCA partners in South Carolina offer scholarships to ensure low-income patients can participate. This inclusive approach resonates with Thai public health values, where inclusion is crucial. In Thailand, public hospitals offer group exercise classes, and village health volunteers promote activity in rural areas, but scaling up and integrating these efforts with medical care remains challenging.
The model builds on a global movement launched by the American College of Sports Medicine, which seeks to treat exercise as a prescription. Thai bodies like the Thai Society of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science have pushed related concepts, but integration with mainstream healthcare and long-term outcome evaluations remain limited.
Key questions for Thai policymakers mirror those of the US study: How many patients can primary care clinics refer to community exercise programs? Do referrals improve health metrics such as blood pressure and glucose control? Is this approach cost-effective for health systems? What barriers—financial, logistical, or behavioral—keep some patients from participating, especially those most in need?
Support for patients who cannot afford programs and for those with mobility challenges is essential, says a clinician involved in Prisma Health’s internal medicine clinics. Providing behavioral modification resources and ongoing feedback to doctors on patient progress helps maintain motivation and adherence, a strategy supported by research on chronic disease management.
For Thailand’s national “war on NCDs,” this study offers a practical blueprint for strengthening the hospital-to-community exercise referral pathway. Thailand already boasts a network of public health volunteers and fitness programs—such as community aerobics groups and urban green spaces—but the doctor–community link is often informal. The US approach highlights the importance of equipping clinicians to prescribe exercise and maintaining feedback loops to track progress.
Historically, Thai medicine has emphasized pharmaceuticals with lifestyle advice. Time constraints in clinics and cultural attitudes about exercise can hinder counseling. Normalizing physical activity as part of medical care could help shift public perceptions, as highlighted by research from Mahidol University’s Population and Social Research Institute.
Thai health experts warn that failing to innovate could leave public healthcare budgets strained by chronic disease. Data from Thailand’s Health Promotion Foundation show rising direct costs for diabetes and cardiovascular disease over the last decade. Expanding subsidized access to safe, culturally appropriate exercise opportunities is seen as a high-return investment, though rollout remains uneven.
Looking ahead, the US project’s findings will inform how best to motivate doctors and patients. If successful, the model could be adapted for Thailand’s urban and rural contexts, complementing ongoing efforts to promote active living. Economic analyses will be essential to determine whether nationwide implementation could reduce healthcare spending. Thai public health leaders are exploring pilot programs in major provincial hospitals and sharing lessons through conferences and government workshops.
For Thai readers, the takeaway is clear: exercise belongs in medicine. Families should ask their doctors about exercise referral programs and consider joining community group activities or local health promotion initiatives. Access to safe, culturally appropriate opportunities—such as group classes at tambon health facilities or city park programs—can improve outcomes while reducing reliance on long-term medications.
In short, the Exercise is Medicine Greenville model contributes valuable evidence to a global push to embed physical activity in daily healthcare. If Thailand embraces these principles, it could accelerate progress against lifestyle-related illness and build a healthier, more productive future.