More and more doctors are advising if not prescribing physical activity to their patients, “ a trend which continues to progress but which comes up once morest patients who do not expect advice from their doctor in sports practice “. This is what the French Federation of Physical Education and Voluntary Gymnastics (FFEPGV) notes, in view of the results of its 12th Sport Health Barometer, carried out with Ipsos.
The survey, carried out online at the end of 2022, with a sample of 2,000 people, aged 16 and over, representative of the French population, reveals that 40% of French indicate that their doctor has already recommended the practice of a particular sporting activity, and 39% that he advised them of a sporting activity, without specifying which one. These two indicators are up 6% compared to 2021, but remain below those of 2018 and 2019.
As for prescription sports prescriptionthe barometer also reports a 6% increase compared to 2021, even if this practice remains still not widespread. In fact, only 21% of those surveyed said they had been prescribed a particular sporting activity, and 20% a physical activity without specifying which one.
The Sport Health Barometer also indicates that it is young people (under 35) and sedentary people who are most affected by the prescription of physical activity: 35% of those under 35 have been prescribed regular practice by prescription of a particular sports activity, and 47% of the most sedentary respondents were advised to practice a particular sports activity on a regular basis. On the other hand, only 12% of seniors (over 60 years old) interviewed were prescribed a particular sporting activity by prescription.
The French are not very eager for sports advice from the doctor
What also emerges from this survey is that the French seem reluctant to have a doctor give them sports advice. Only one out of 5 French people (22%) would like their doctor to advise them to practice a particular sports activity. And only 18% expect a doctor to prescribe this kind of activity for them. That is a respective drop of 7% and 5% compared to the same barometer carried out in 2021, indicates the FFEPGV, which specifies that these two indicators are “ steadily declining since 2019 ».
Remember that since March 1, 2017, anyone suffering from a chronic illness can be prescribed by their doctor an adapted physical activity, according to the terms of the “Sport on prescription” law. The law of March 2, 2022 has extended this system, since now, any doctor involved in the care of the patient has the possibility of prescribing an appropriate physical activity. From now on, this possibility of sport on prescription concerns people with a long-term illness (ALD) or a chronic disease, or with risk factors, or with a loss of autonomy, and no longer only patients with an ALD.
