Why is Physical Activity Important?

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Physical fitness offers lots of health and other benefits! Here are eight key reasons why exercise is important:.

  1. Decrease risk of disease
  2. Feel great physically
  3. Look better
  4. Sleep better
  5. Live longer—up to five years according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine!
  6. Keep in shape so you can enjoy leisure activities
  7. Avoid injury and safely perform work and home chores
  8. Increase mental health and social wellbeing

The last point is especially interesting.  According to studies in the Lancet physical activity brings “a sense of purpose and value, a better quality of life, improved sleep, and reduced stress, as well as stronger relationships and social connectedness."

Fitness for health and other reasons to exercise

Additional benefits

9. Feel better about yourself

10. Reduce the chance of becoming depressed

11. Get around better

12. Have stronger muscles and bones

13. Achieve or maintain a healthy weight

14. Be with friends or meet new people

15. Have fun!

Reduced risk

According to the Centers for Disease Control, exercise can reduce your risk of:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Depression
  • Breast and colon cancer
  • Osteoporosis

Sitting is dangerous

Lack of physical activity is associated with increased risks of:

  • Anxiety, stress, and feelings of depression
  • Developing many preventable conditions, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and obesity
  • Dying prematurely

Researchers even suggest that the sedentary lifestyle so common in our culture is more deadly than smoking. They believe that 6-10% of the world’s non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer) are caused by physical inactivity.

Fitness for kids

Regular physical exercise is important for younger generations too, especially with the rise of obesity in children. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and social discrimination are just a few of the possible consequences of a childhood spent in front of the television or the internet. Check out Let's Move! for nutrition and fitness tips for children.

Center for Disease Control. www.cdc.gov CDC on Physical Activity: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html

Friedenreich, C.M., Orenstein, M.R. (2002). Physical activity and cancer prevention: etiologic evidence and biological mechanisms. The Journal of Nutrition; 132(11 Suppl):3456S-3464S.

Hallal, P. C., Andersen, L. B., Bull, F. C., Guthold, R., Haskell, W., & Ekelund, U. (2012). Global physical activity levels: Surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. The Lancet, 380(9838) 247-257.

Janssen, I., Carson, V., Lee, I.M., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Blair, S.N. (2013). Years of life gained due to leisure-time physical activity in the U.S. American Journal of Preventative Medicine; 44(1):23-9.

Lee, I.M., Shiroma, E.J., Lobelo, F., Puska, P., Blair, S.N., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group. (2012). Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet;380(9838):219-29.

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