Back in Motion pilates instructor Laura Dawson leads a
Pilates class in the Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin
yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
A medical exercise demonstrating the importance of
exercise was held in Dunedin yesterday.
More than 200 third-year University of Otago medical students
gave free 45-minute consultations to Mornington Health Centre
patients in the Glenroy Auditorium.
University of Otago Faculty of Medicine senior lecturer Dr
Hamish Wilson said the checks included blood pressure, blood
sugar, weight, height and lifestyle assessments.
"It's a lifestyle check, rather than a medical check. The
best thing you can often prescribe is more exercise. We want
to raise the profile of how important exercise is. Exercise
is cardio-protection against the effects of weight issues.
But you can also be skinny and not healthy, due to a lack of
exercise. BMI (body mass index) on its own doesn't give
enough data," he said.
"It's also multidisciplinary, as the students get to work
with other health professionals."
It was the third year the medical faculty had run the
exercise, Dr Wilson said.
"It's about giving something back to the community. Dunedin
people are very supportive of the medical school and we're
very grateful for that support.
Physiotherapy, dietetics and physical education health
professionals also ran information stalls at the event.
Patients received a "traffic light" rated summary, to take to
their GPs for further discussion.
- nigel.benson@odt.co.nz
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