title: The green prescription study: a randomized controlled trial of written exercise advice provided by general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether written advice from general practitioners increases physical activity among sedentary people more than verbal advice alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sedentary patients (n = 456) received verbal advice on increasing physical activity and were then randomized to an exercise prescription (green prescription) group or a verbal advice group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of people engaging in any recreational physical activity at 6 weeks increased substantially, but significantly more so in the green prescription group. Also, more participants in the green prescription group increased their activity over the period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A written goal-oriented exercise prescription, in addition to verbal advice, is a useful tool for general practitioners in motivating their parents to increase physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Swinburn
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arroll
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Tilyard
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric