Strategic Initiatives

Exercise is Medicine® (EIM), a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), encourages primary care physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans and to refer patients to evidence-based exercise programs and qualified exercise professionals, especially those with the EIM credential.

Annually, the ACSM American Fitness Index (Fitness Index) ranks the 100 largest cities in the United States on a composite of health behaviors, chronic diseases, and community infrastructure. The Fitness Index celebrates healthy, active lifestyles and encourages city leaders to change policies and systems to support these behaviors.