Cyprus ranks among the European countries with the highest levels of obesity, both in adults and in children. According to the latest data from the World Health Organization, more than 60% of adults in Cyprus are overweight or obese, while one in three school-aged children weighs more than what is considered healthy. Sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits and limited physical activity have created a “silent epidemic” that burdens the healthcare system and increases the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.
In this context, the National Strategy for Physical Activity and Health, to be presented in 2025, introduces an innovative approach: doctors will be able to “prescribe” exercise as a preventive and therapeutic measure. Instead of medication or other medical interventions, patients will receive “prescriptions” that include physical activity such as gym sessions, walking, yoga or participation in group wellbeing programmes.
The idea is simple. Exercise and social engagement can act as medicine, with proven benefits for both physical and mental health. This approach, known internationally as “social prescribing,” is gaining ground across Europe.
How it works
Social prescribing does not replace medication when it is medically necessary, but complements treatment by offering a more holistic approach to health. In practice, a personal or specialist doctor can refer a patient with a chronic condition or mental health difficulty to activities that improve their wellbeing. The “prescription” may include a range of options, from support groups for chronic or mental health conditions to exercise programmes, walking, yoga or dance classes, nutrition and stress management workshops, volunteering initiatives or creative activities.
Studies show that such interventions improve mood, quality of life and adherence to medical guidance, while reducing the need for medication.
Social prescribing is already implemented in several EU countries. The United Kingdom has been a pioneer through the NHS, incorporating the practice into primary care to address depression, anxiety and chronic illnesses. In Ireland, doctors refer patients to wellbeing activities, while in Spain the approach is mainly used for elderly people to promote social reintegration. In 2025, the EU launched the Social Prescribing EU (SP-EU) programme, funded under Horizon Europewith a budget of €7 million, aimed at reducing health inequalities.
According to a 2024 review of studies involving more than 3,500 patients, social prescribing significantly improved psychological and physical wellbeing, boosted self-esteem and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. For cancer patients, it has proven especially beneficial in supporting psychological recovery and social reintegration.
Preference on the pill
In Cyprus, the concept of social prescribing remains largely unknown, although some patient associations and private organisations have been applying it informally in recent years.
“Unfortunately, in Cypriot culture, exercise is not yet considered part of treatment,” notes Dr Paraskevi Antoniou, specialist physician. “Most patients prefer to take a pill, even knowing they will need it for the rest of their lives. It’s easier to rely on medication than to change habits, make time for physical activity or take part in something that requires consistency and effort. Yet the truth is that exercise can be just as effective - and often more so - in preventing and managing chronic diseases.”
Dr Antoniou stresses that “exercise on prescription” should be formally incorporated into the next stages of the GESY system to make it practically viable:
“If doctors are compensated for prescribing exercise, they’ll have a stronger incentive to recommend it, just as they do with medication. Only then will we see a real shift in mindset — both among healthcare professionals and the public.”
“Exercise is neither a luxury nor a hobby,” she adds. “It’s both prevention and treatment. And the sooner we realise that as a society, the healthier we will be.”
Incentives for employers
Beyond the “exercise on prescription” initiative, the new national strategy includes a range of measures aimed at changing attitudes across society. Among them are incentives for employers to encourage physical activity among employees even during working hours, through programmes such as workplace fitness, cycling or group walking.
Particular emphasis is placed on schools, where plans include strengthening physical education, creating school gardens and running hands-on cooking workshops focused on the Mediterranean Diet. At the same time, unhealthy products will be removed from canteens, and movement breaks and outdoor activities will be expanded.
The goal is to create learning environments that nurture a healthy relationship with exercise and food as a way of life, not as an obligation or restriction.