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Some Doctors Ditch Medications For Patients, Prescribe The Gym Instead

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Doctors who treat chronic health problems are increasingly prescribing exercise instead of medicines for their patients. Advocates say low-cost access to a gym is a key factor in filling that prescription.

When Dr. Anna Groskin writes prescriptions, the next stop for many of her patients is not the pharmacy -- it's the gym.

Doctors treating chronic medical problems are increasingly prescribing exercise for a variety of condition, CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reported.

"So primarily diabetes, hypertension, obesity itself, but we also give it for depression and other mood disorders," Groskin, of Codman Square Health Center, said.

While doctors have long recommended exercise, the idea is that patients are more likely to comply when the prescription comes with affordable gym access.

"Now the doctor's writing a prescription... the next piece that we're getting much better at is providing a solution and providing a place where the prescription is being filled," Dr. Edward Phillips said.

To address cost issues, some health centers are partnering with exercise facilities to build community fitness centers. Patients with exercise prescriptions get free membership for three months, then pay according to ability.

"I pay about $10 a month because I only have a part-time job right now. It's not a big sacrifice for something that you get big rewards from," patient Stephanie Dennis said.

It's not cure-all, but research shows that people who are physically active tend to live longer. They also have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes, and even cancer.

Monisha Long received an exercise prescription to deal with high blood pressure and morbid obesity. She's lost over 150 pounds after two years of regular workouts.

"I'm more energized. As far as my energy, I feel like I'm stronger. I feel like I'm less tired. I feel like I can do almost anything now," Long said.

It's unknown exactly how exercise works to prevent several diseases or whether it can really act as medicine once you get sick, but doctors at Sloan Kettering are running clinical trials to see if exercise can reduce cancer recurrence.

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