The Effects of Residency on Physical Fitness among Military Physicians

Weinreich

Journal of Graduate Medical Education

et al. 2017

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Internal Medicine Residents: Are Future Physicians Becoming Deconditioned?

Weinreich

Journal of Graduate Medical Education

et al. 2017

“…[30] However, residents are less likely to exercise regularly than medical students or attendings, [21], [31] and a survey of radiology residents found that only 37% engaged in recommended guidelines for physical activity. [20] A study of military physicians found that physical fitness declined and weight increased during residency training, [32] and a study of 375 residents from two academic medical centers found that third year medical residents were more likely to be overweight than first year residents [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity Monitor Intervention to Promote Physical Activity of Physicians-In-Training: Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2014

BackgroundPhysicians are expected to serve as role models for healthy lifestyles, but long work hours reduce time for healthy behaviors. A hospital-based physical activity intervention could improve physician health and increase counseling about exercise.MethodsWe conducted a two-phase intervention among 104 medical residents at a large hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Phase 1 was a 6-week randomized controlled trial comparing daily steps of residents assigned to an activity monitor displaying feedback about steps and energy consumed (intervention) or to a blinded monitor (control). Phase 2 immediately followed and was a 6-week non-randomized team steps competition in which all participants wore monitors with feedback. Phase 1 outcomes were: 1) median steps/day and 2) proportion of days activity monitor worn. The Phase 2 outcome was mean steps/day on days monitor worn (≥500 steps/day). Physiologic measurements were collected at baseline and study end. Median steps/day were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Mean steps were compared using repeated measures regression analyses.ResultsIn Phase 1, intervention and control groups had similar activity (6369 vs. 6063 steps/day, p = 0.16) and compliance with wearing the monitor (77% vs. 77% of days, p = 0.73). In Phase 2 (team competition), residents recorded more steps/day than during Phase 1 (Control: 7,971 vs. 7,567, p = 0.002; Intervention: 7,832 vs. 7,739, p = 0.13). Mean compliance with wearing the activity monitor decreased for both groups during Phase 2 compared to Phase 1 (60% vs. 77%, p<0.001). Mean systolic blood pressure decreased (p = 0.004) and HDL cholesterol increased (p<0.001) among all participants at end of study compared to baseline.ConclusionsAlthough the activity monitor intervention did not have a major impact on activity or health, the high participation rates of busy residents and modest changes in steps, blood pressure, and HDL suggest that more intensive hospital-based wellness programs have potential for promoting healthier lifestyles among physicians.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT01287208.

“…The few studies published on the fitness of medical residents are discouraging. Suskin and colleagues 11 found that a group of 20 residents experienced decreased aerobic fitness throughout rotations, and Arora and colleagues 12 reported similar results in military physicians. In a recent survey, internal medicine residents reported a significant decrease in physical activity once they began residency and noted time constraints as the primary barrier.…”

mentioning

confidence: 82%

Physical fitness of medical residents: Is the health of surgical residents at risk?

Perrin

Cordingley

Leiter

et al. 2018

cjs

Background: Postgraduate medical residency programs are laborious and time-intensive, and can be physically, intellectually and emotionally demanding. These working conditions may lead to the neglect of personal health and well-being. The objective of this study was to compare the anthropometric and fitness characteristics of surgical and nonsurgical medical residents. We hypothesized that there is a difference in physical health between these 2 groups. Methods: Medical residents completed a demographic information questionnaire and were assessed by trained staff for height, weight, body fat percentage, muscular strength and endurance, and peak oxygen consumption (V̇ᴏ2peak). The average number of working hours per week was also documented. Results: Forty-five residents (21 surgical and 24 nonsurgical; 31 men and 14 women) participated in the study. Surgical residents worked more hours per week on average than nonsurgical residents (p = 0.02) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04) and lower V̇ᴏ2peak (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Surgical residents worked more hours than nonsurgical residents, which may have contributed to their higher BMI and lower aerobic fitness levels. Despite a heavy workload, it is important for all medical residents to find strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle for both themselves and their patients to ensure long-term well-being.