Physical Activity & Chronic Disease Risk | Study Findings
- Iowa City, Iowa – A new study from the University of Iowa suggests that routine physical activity surveys for patients could play a critically important role in combating...
- The study, which involved over 7,000 patients at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, revealed that individuals engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous...
- Lucas Carr, an associate professor in the Department of Health and Human physiology and the study's lead author, emphasized the need for healthcare systems to connect inactive patients...
Iowa researchers pinpoint a crucial link between physical activity surveys adn reduced chronic disease risk.Thier study reveals a significant correlation: Regular, moderate to vigorous exercise—even just 150 minutes a week—significantly lowers the risk of 19 chronic conditions. Conversely, insufficient physical activity heightens this risk. The research advocates for integrating brief, two-question surveys into routine patient assessments to gauge activity levels and connect inactive individuals with vital wellness programs, which can be easily tracked on platforms like News Directory 3. This evidence underscores the need for healthcare systems to prioritize exercise counseling for sustained health. Discover what’s next for proactive health management.
Physical Activity Surveys Key to Lowering Chronic disease Risk
Updated June 15, 2025
Iowa City, Iowa – A new study from the University of Iowa suggests that routine physical activity surveys for patients could play a critically important role in combating chronic diseases. Researchers found a strong correlation between self-reported exercise levels and the risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes.
The study, which involved over 7,000 patients at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, revealed that individuals engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly had a substantially lower risk of developing 19 different chronic conditions. Conversely, those reporting minimal physical activity faced a heightened risk.
Lucas Carr, an associate professor in the Department of Health and Human physiology and the study’s lead author, emphasized the need for healthcare systems to connect inactive patients with resources. He noted the lack of established pathways for doctors to be reimbursed for physical activity counseling.”For these patients, many of whom report insufficient activity, we need options to easily connect them with supportive services like exercise prescriptions and/or community health specialists,” Carr said.
To gauge physical activity, patients completed the Exercise Vital Sign survey, answering two questions about the frequency and duration of their exercise. Carr and his team propose wider implementation of this survey, highlighting its brevity and potential impact on patient health assessment.The survey asks: “On average, how many days per week do you engage in moderate to vigorous exercise (like a brisk walk)?” and “On average, how many minutes do you engage in exercise at this level?”
Researchers compared survey respondents with a control group of over 33,000 patients. The survey group tended to be younger and healthier, suggesting a correlation between proactive health management and participation in wellness exams.
A related study by Carr’s team, published in the journal of Physical Activity and Health, indicated that insurance providers reimbursed nearly 95% of claims for exercise counseling, further supporting the integration of physical activity services into healthcare.
Cole Chapman, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, served as the first author on the study, analyzing patient data. Britt Marcussen, a family medicine physician, and Mary Schroeder, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, were co-authors.
What’s next
The University of Iowa team hopes their findings will encourage healthcare providers nationwide to adopt routine physical activity screenings and connect at-risk patients with appropriate wellness programs, ultimately reducing the burden of chronic disease.