Standardizing access to physical activity could help reduce the $6.8-billion cost associated with a sedentary lifestyle, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo discovered that only 57 percent of family health items in Ontario offer physical activity services, and the majority of these services are restricted to people with specific conditions. Researchers looked at the physical activity services in 102 locations in Ontario.

"These services can range from something as informal as an organized walking group, to something as structured as an aerobics class or counseling session," Cameron Moore, lead author on the paper, said in a statement. "Physical activity services are certainly part of the broader health promotion picture, but they are unique in their cost-effectiveness and ability to improve health and well-being for all patients, not just those with a chronic condition."

Currently, 67 family health teams in Ontario receive funding for health-promotion initiatives, including dedicated funds to employ health promotion staff. Prior research shows that adding a physical activity counselor would cost approximately $91.43 per participant per month.

"There may be an important role for physical activity counselors as Ontario shifts towards interdisciplinary health-care models," Professor Lora Giangregorio, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "They have the potential to influence behavior change and monitor adherence to exercise programs, resulting in better outcomes for the patient."

In family health teams, a group of salaried physicians and health-care practitioners work together under the same roof and with the same patients. Physicians can draw upon the expertise of other practitioners, including dieticians, social workers and health promoters. They share information and can refer patients to a range of specialists who are familiar with their medical history.

"Family health teams operate within a synergistic model of health care, and physical activity counselors are an important addition to that mix," Moore said. "Most people receive health care through the primary care system, and therefore it is a great place to initiate conversations about the health benefits of being physically active, and to offer services that promote physical activity."

The study suggests that registered kinesiologists with expertise in physical activity prescription and counseling for behavior change are well suited for health promotion roles.

The findings are detailed in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.