Exercise: New Prescription for Better Health
By: Michigan Fitness Association Marketing Team
Dr. Melissa Sundermann
That growing body of research is supported by Dr. Melissa Sundermann, a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, endurance athlete, and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Her clinical work focuses on how lifestyle behaviors—including exercise, nutrition, and stress management—affect long-term health. Sudnermann’s studies and public education efforts reinforce what health experts worldwide now agree on: consistent physical activity plays a central role in preventing and managing chronic disease.
Exercise does more than shape muscles—it shapes your future health. Across Michigan, fitness professionals see every day how movement helps people feel stronger, sleep better, and think clearly. But the science goes even deeper. Regular exercise can lower the risk of chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes while improving recovery and quality of life for those already living with them.
That growing body of research is supported by Dr. Melissa Sundermann, a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, endurance athlete, and member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Her clinical work focuses on how lifestyle behaviors—including exercise, nutrition, and stress management—affect long-term health. Sudnermann’s studies and public education efforts reinforce what health experts worldwide now agree on: consistent physical activity plays a central role in preventing and managing chronic disease.
Her research explores how exercise influences the body at every level. When people move regularly, their muscles release signaling proteins known as myokines that help reduce inflammation, regulate blood sugar, and strengthen immune defenses. Physical activity increases circulation and oxygen delivery to tissues, supporting their repair and regeneration. These physiological changes work together to maintain hormone balance, stabilize metabolism, and protect against cellular damage that contributes to chronic disease.
The scientific community increasingly refers to exercise as a “polypill” because of its wide-ranging benefits. Decades of research confirm that regular physical activity improves cardiovascular function, bone density, immune health, cognitive performance, and emotional well-being. The positive effects are not limited to any one type of exercise. Walking, strength training, swimming, yoga, cycling, dancing, and other forms of movement all contribute to improved health outcomes when performed consistently. The most critical factors are sustainability and momentum—choosing activities that individuals can enjoy and maintain over time.
In conditions such as arthritis, movement plays a crucial role in maintaining joint health and overall mobility. Regular physical activity supports stronger muscles around the joints, improves blood flow, and reduces stiffness, all of which help preserve function and limit pain. These benefits apply across age groups and ability levels, offering a noninvasive way to manage symptoms and improve daily comfort.
Similarly, in the area of cancer prevention and recovery, the evidence continues to grow. Studies from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and World Health Organization show that adults who engage in regular exercise experience significantly lower risks of developing several major cancers. Physical activity also helps regulate hormones, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the immune system—all factors linked to cancer prevention. For individuals undergoing or recovering from treatment, continued movement supports energy levels, mood, and long-term resilience.
Exercise also offers profound mental health benefits. Regular activity improves mood, focus, and cognitive clarity through enhanced blood flow and neurochemical balance. Research within the lifestyle medicine field shows that exercise can complement or, in some cases, reduce the need for pharmacologic treatments for mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This connection between body and mind is a cornerstone of Dr. Sundermann’s approach to patient care, and it mirrors what many fitness professionals see daily—that movement restores not just physical capability, but also confidence and emotional well-being.
The implications for Michigan’s fitness community are significant. As rates of chronic disease rise across the nation, the opportunity for collaboration between healthcare providers and fitness professionals becomes increasingly important each year. Physicians excel at diagnosis and treatment, while fitness experts specialize in changing behaviors and habits as they relate to exercise. Working together, they can create a bridge between medical guidance and daily action, transforming prescriptions into real and lasting progress.
“Research within the lifestyle medicine field shows that exercise can complement or, in some cases, reduce the need for pharmacologic treatments for mild to moderate anxiety and depression.”
Dr. Sundermann’s work with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine supports this collaborative model. She advocates for medical practices that integrate exercise counseling into routine care and for closer personal relationships between healthcare teams and certified fitness professionals. This partnership allows patients to move seamlessly from medical advice to supervised implementation in community gyms and wellness centers. It also expands healthcare’s reach by giving people access to consistent, guided movement in familiar, supportive settings.
In conditions such as arthritis, movement plays a crucial role in maintaining joint health and overall mobility. Regular physical activity supports stronger muscles around the joints, improves blood flow, and reduces stiffness, all of which help preserve function and limit pain. These benefits apply across age groups and ability levels, offering a noninvasive way to manage symptoms and improve daily comfort.
Similarly, in the area of cancer prevention and recovery, the evidence continues to grow. Studies from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and World Health Organization show that adults who engage in regular exercise experience significantly lower risks of developing several major cancers. Physical activity also helps regulate hormones, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the immune system—all factors linked to cancer prevention. For individuals undergoing or recovering from treatment, continued movement supports energy levels, mood, and long-term resilience.
Exercise also offers profound mental health benefits. Regular activity improves mood, focus, and cognitive clarity through enhanced blood flow and neurochemical balance. Research within the lifestyle medicine field shows that exercise can complement or, in some cases, reduce the need for pharmacologic treatments for mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This connection between body and mind is a cornerstone of Dr. Sundermann’s approach to patient care, and it mirrors what many fitness professionals see daily—that movement restores not just physical capability, but also confidence and emotional well-being.
The implications for Michigan’s fitness community are significant. As rates of chronic disease rise across the nation, the opportunity for collaboration between healthcare providers and fitness professionals becomes increasingly important each year. Physicians excel at diagnosis and treatment, while fitness experts specialize in changing behaviors and habits as they relate to exercise. Working together, they can create a bridge between medical guidance and daily action, transforming prescriptions into real and lasting progress.
“Regular physical activity supports stronger muscles around the joints, improves blood flow, and reduces stiffness, all of which help preserve function and limit pain.”
Dr. Sundermann’s work with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine supports this collaborative model. She advocates for medical practices that integrate exercise counseling into routine care and for closer personal relationships between healthcare teams and certified fitness professionals. This partnership allows patients to move seamlessly from medical advice to supervised implementation in community gyms and wellness centers. It also expands healthcare’s reach by giving people access to consistent, guided movement in familiar, supportive settings.
Michigan’s fitness industry is well-positioned to take part in this broader movement. With hundreds of Michigan Fitness Association member gyms, studios, and wellness centers across the state, the foundation for preventative healthcare collaboration already exists. By establishing relationships with local healthcare providers, sharing evidence-based education, and promoting exercise as a first-line intervention, fitness professionals can help bring lifestyle medicine principles directly into neighborhoods and communities.
The research is clear, and the opportunity at hand is growing. Exercise can help individuals lower inflammation, stabilize their metabolism, strengthen their immunity, and enhance their mental well-being. It remains the most accessible and cost-effective way to improve one’s quality of life. Dr Sundermann’s contributions to the field of lifestyle medicine reinforce this principle toward a future where fitness and healthcare operate as partners rather than parallel industries.
For Michigan’s fitness professionals, that partnership begins with a shared mission: helping people move more, feel better, and live longer. Every class, coaching session, or personal training plan represents more than a workout—it’s a prescription for better health. By embracing collaboration and promoting movement as preventative care, MFA members can help shape a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Michigan.