Is exercise really medicine?

Exercise is medicine. The expression started as the name of a health initiative and is now a catchphrase used by doctors, fitness experts, and others who want to motivate you to move. But is physical activity really as effective as prescription medications? "Yes, I do think of it as medicine, and even better, it's medicine that's free and has very few side effects," says Dr. I-Min Lee, a Harvard Medical School professor who studies the role of physical activity in preventing disease, promoting health and well-being, and enhancing longevity.
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