Exercise is good for your physical, mental and social
health.
People of all ages who are generally inactive can improve their health and well-being by
becoming active at a moderate-intensity on a regular basis. Regular physical activity has
many benefits and should be part of everyone’s life. The leading cause of death in the
United States is heart disease that is a result of inactivity and other health factors.
The Benefits of Physical Activity are:
 Reduce the risk for dying prematurely
 Reduce the risk for heart disease
 Reduce the risk for developing diabetes
 Help reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.
 Reduces feeling of depression and anxiety.
 Help control weight.
 Help build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints.
 Help older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.
Being physically active helps combat problems that can result from a sedentary lifestyle,
such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
When you perform physical activity often, your body’s immune system strengthens and
as a result preventing you from getting diseases that are cause from lack of physical
activity. The important of physical activity isn’t only for the benefit of your health and
fitness. It is also important for your mental and social skills. A good goal is to work up
to exercising 4 to 6 times a week for at least 30 to 60 minutes each time.
Three types of exercise:
Flexibility Exercise: focuses on your joints and range of motion in your muscles.
Stretching your major joints everyday, especially before exercising will keep the joints
and muscles healthy.
Aerobic Exercise: are about maintaining and increasing your cardiovascular endurance.
These activities include walking, jogging, playing tennis, riding a bicycle, swimming and
running.
Anaerobic Exercise: This type of exercise focuses on the short-term part of your
strength. This includes weight training, sprinting, etc.
Physical activity is not always about spending hours at the gym. There are many ways to
become more physically active this includes everyday activities and recreational activities
such asEveryday Activities:





Take the stairs.
Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk.
Take a walk at lunchtime.
Walk to the store instead of driving.
Get up to change the TV channel.
Recreational Activities:



Enjoy activity with your friends and family: cycling, bowling, gardening
and dancing.
Join a group to enjoy your favorite activity like a cycling club or swim
team.
One-two-cha-cha. Maybe now is the time to join that dance class you’ve
always planned to take.
Additional resources are available at:
Physical activity for everyone
www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/getactive/index.html
Fitness at any age
www.medicinenet.com/exercise_and_activity/article.htm
7 Benefits of regular physical activity
www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676
The importance of physical activity
www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/physical-activity