MOVEMENT FOR DIABETES AND OBESITY

What is the aim of the project?

The project aims to implement a structured and personalised model for assessing and prescribing physical exercise, integrated into healthcare, enabling users to access exercise programmes tailored to their clinical needs, physical abilities, goals and preferences. The intervention will be delivered in different formats: face-to-face and online. The main objective is to increase levels of physical activity and improve health indicators and quality of life in people with diabetes and obesity.

How does it work?

In the first phase, participants will have a medical consultation, during which their clinical history will be reviewed, a medical history taken and key risk factors assessed. Following this initial assessment, the doctor may refer the participant for a consultation with an exercise physiologist.

Subsequently, participants will be supported by a multidisciplinary team comprising exercise physiologists, researchers and lecturers in the field of Sports and Health Sciences, and an individualised physical exercise plan will be developed, tailored to each person’s clinical needs, functional abilities, goals and preferences.

The project also aims to contribute to the practical and scientific training of young professionals and trainee researchers, promoting the development of skills in the assessment, prescription and supervision of physical exercise in clinical and community settings.

The programme’s operation and the various assessment and intervention components are described in the flowchart below.

Evidence-based research

The project will be carried out in accordance with international scientific methodologies, and physical exercise assessment and prescription protocols aligned with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine and the World Health Organisation.

In addition to the practical intervention, the project aims to:

• Generate scientific knowledge;

• Develop educational resources;

• Train health and exercise professionals;

• Create the “Guide to Active Living in Lezíria and Médio Tejo”.

Expected impact

LEZÍRIA E MÉDIO TEJO MAIS ATIVOS aims to contribute to:

• The promotion of healthier lifestyles;

• The integration of physical exercise into healthcare;

• The improvement of quality of life for clinical populations;

• Bridging the gap between research, the community and the hospital setting.

The project will also enable an analysis of the clinical, functional and economic impact of integrating exercise physiologists into the hospital setting, contributing to the calculation of the cost-benefit associated with the implementation of consultations to promote physical activity and the prescription of exercise within healthcare.

In this way, the aim is to reinforce the role of physical activity as a true “vital sign” in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, promoting more sustainable, multidisciplinary and person-centred models of care.

Research Team

The project team comprises researchers, lecturers, healthcare professionals and students from the Rio Maior School of Sport – IPSantarém, SPRINT – Centre for Research & Innovation in Sport, Physical Activity and Health, and Tomar Hospital.

SPRINT Team from the Rio Maior School of Sport:

• Rúben Francisco, PhD

• Nuno Pimenta, PhD

• Fátima Ramalho, PhD

• Marco Branco, PhD

• Rafael Oliveira, PhD

• Vera Simões, PhD

• Liliana Ramos, PhD

• Susana Alves, PhD

• Rita Santos Rocha, PhD

Tomar Hospital Team:

• Cristiana Gonçalves, BSc

• Carolina Cardoso, MSc

• Rita Reis, BSc

Students:

• Mónica Sousa – PhD student

• André Paixão – Master’s student

• Núria Duarte – Master’s student

• Pedro Oliveira – Master’s student