Personalizing the guidelines of exercise prescription for health: Guiding users from dependency to self-efficacy
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides physical activity guidelines tailored to diverse populations and life stages. Despite endorsements from private and public institutions, the recommendations lack real personalization and fail to consider the multidimensional, dynamic and context-dependence of health and fitness. The aim of the presentation is threefold: a) reviewing the theoretical assumptions and evidence-based research behind the WHO guidelines, b) updating the guidelines on the basis of complex systems science and network physiology, and c) revealing how to empower users/patients to transition from dependency on prescriptions to self-efficacy, fostering their self-responsibility towards health and fitness.
Recommended literature
Balagué, N., Hristovski, R., Almarcha, M., Garcia-Retortillo, S., & Ivanov, P. C. (2020). Network Physiology of exercise: Vision and perspectives. Frontiers in Physiology, 11(611550). https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.611550
Almarcha, M., González, I., Balagué, N., & Javierre, C. (2022). Prescribing or co-designing exercise in healthy adults? Effects on mental health and interoceptive awareness. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16(944193). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.944193