Evaluating the Effects of the Exercise Is Medicine Program on Biopsychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes in Individuals with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

INTRODUCTION: The benefits of exercise for cardiovascular disease prevention are well established, yet most patients fail to adopt regular exercise despite healthcare provider recommendations. While healthcare provider recommendations provide interpersonal support, exercise adoption requires the development of intrapersonal motivation and the presence of a supportive environment. The Exercise is Medicine (EIM) program utilizes healthcare provider referrals to connect patients with a community that fosters the translation of exercise beliefs into behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the biopsychosocial and behavioral outcomes of the EIM program. METHODS: Participants were referred by healthcare providers through electronic medical records. Participants engaged in 16 group sessions and three one-on-one sessions (two before and one after the group sessions) and completed validated measures to assess the biopsychosocial model of health. RESULTS: The EIM program demonstrated significant improvements in biological and behavioral markers. Notably, exercise participation increased by an average of 64.7 min (95% confidence interval [CI]: 46.6 to 82.8). Body mass index decreased by 0.48 units (95% CI: -0.63 to -0.32), while perceived stress scores declined by 1.08 points (95% CI: -1.59 to -0.56). Participants also experienced an improvement in health-related quality of life, with general health scores rising by 5.59 points (95% CI: 4.39 to 6.78). Systolic blood pressure decreased by 2.9 mm Hg (95% CI: -3.9 to -1.9). Additionally, there was a 22% reduction in depressive symptoms ( P < 0.001) and a 9% reduction in perceived stress ( P < 0.001). Increases in exercise time were associated with improvements in key behavioral determinants such as self-efficacy, affective judgment/passion, and tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these findings underscore the program's positive impact on cardiovascular health and mental well-being in a real-world community setting.