A recent report released by the Ministry of Health details the successes of New Zealand’s "green prescriptions," which physicians use to advise patients, in writing, to exercise. These prescriptions are forwarded to a patient support team, which then encourages the patient to become more physically active. Most often issued to patients with weight problems, high blood pressure, or a risk of stroke or diabetes, over 80 percent of general practitioners in the country have given out a green prescription. Based on a survey in 2012, more than 73 percent of patients who received a green prescription noticed an improvement in their health.
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