Behavioral counseling in primary care to promote physical activity: Recommendation and rationale

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on counseling by primary care physicians to promote physical activity and the supporting scientific evidence, and it updates the 1996 recommendations contained in the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, second edition. The complete USPSTF recommendations and rationale statement on this topic, which includes a brief review of the supporting evidence, is available through the USPSTF Web site (www .preventiveservices.ahrq.gov), the National Guideline Clearing-house (www.guideline.gov), and in print through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Publications Clearinghouse (telephone, 800-358-9295; e-mail, [email protected]). The complete information on which this statement is based, including tables and references, is available in the accompanying article in this issue and in the summary of the evidence and systematic evidence review on the Web sites already mentioned.