Benefits Of Physical Activity

What Are The Benefits Of Physical Activity?

The benefits of regular physical activity are wide ranging. Someone who takes part in regular physical activity will benefit from improved health, improved level of fitness and find it easier to maintain a healthy weight.

Some of these benefits include:

Improved Bone Mass & Strength, Improved Health, Improved Heart Health, Improved Posture, Improved Functional Strength, Improved Brain Function, Improved Mental Health & Reduced Effects Of Old Age

Health Benefits Include:

Reduced Risk Of Certain Diseases

Regular physical activity reduces a person's risk of developing many conditions and will help people who already have conditions manage their symptoms.

Conditions which can improve from regular physical activity include Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension , Coronary Heart Disease, Certain Cancers, Obesity & Osteoporosis.

Type 2 Diabetes also called "Non Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) develops due to the cells in the body becoming either less sensitive/resistant to insulin or the body not producing adequate levels of insulin. Inactive people, people over the age of 40 and people with a family history of type 2 diabetes are at a high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is more prevalent in people who are inactive than those who participate on regular physical activity. As a well conditioned heart is stronger and more efficiently meaning it does not have to pump as hard to pump and transport the blood around the body. The harder the heart pumps (the higher the pressure in the arteries aka blood pressure).

Osteoporosis historically is known as a disease of old age, but now is starting to affect younger people. This is due to the increased number of younger people not taking part in regular exercise thus not placing adequate stress on their bones on a regular basis. Exercises including lifting heavy loads stimulates bones to adapt and become stronger just as inactivity does not stimulate bone activity and bones thus become weaker.

Obesity develops when a person regularly consumes more calories than their body needs over a long period of time. The human body burns an amount of calories each day (Basal Metabolic Rate) just to survive, additional physical activity and exercise increases the amount of calories the body uses on a daily rate. A lack of exercise/physical activity and a high calorie diet will cause excess weight gain which leads to obesity. Obesity increases the risk of developing all health problems.

Coronary Heart Disease also known as (CHD) is the most common cause of deaths within the United Kingdom (UK) and is responsible for 1 in 5 male deaths and 1 in 7 female deaths. While CHD is partly hereditary, lifestyle plays a massive impact upon the risk of developing the disease. Those who participate in regular physical activity massively reduce the risk of developing CHD.

If you are currently physically active, its time to look into ways of focusing on improving your health based fitness, if you are not yet physically active, its time to start moving more and getting more active because some of the things mentioned above can be life threatening.

Move more, Do more, Live More