 Michael Fleming, M.D. |
For those keeping score, AAFP President Michael Fleming, M.D., of Shreveport, La., who announced his decision to take the Americans in Motion challenge in late September, by press time had lost 21 pounds.
Fleming, who pledged to wear a pedometer and work toward amassing 10,000 steps a day, challenged other FPs to follow in his footsteps.
"The most heartening thing is that I have heard from family docs around the country who are supportive and joining in, and at every state meeting I go to, our members respond," says Fleming. Using a pedometer is working well, he says, and he walks between 9,800 and 11,000 steps a day.
Media attention for the AIM initiative has been strong. The Los Angeles Times reported on Fleming's progress in a November article, "Doctors Who Lose Gain Credibility."
An article about the initiative in the Nov. 3 American Medical News set off a spate of letters questioning the role of patient responsibility in the initiative's premise. Fleming wrote a response printed in the Dec. 15 issue of the publication: "Contrary to what was written in one of the letters, we are not asking family physicians to look 'buff.' We simply want them to lead healthier lives. In some cases, a byproduct of improved physical activity, nutrition and emotional well-being will be weight loss, but that is not our end goal. This is about following our own advice to lead a healthy lifestyle."
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Copyright © 2004 by
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