The Benefits of Physical Activity

Understanding the valuable health benefits of physical activity is crucial to staying motivated to exercise when your momentum wanes. (This can be really important when the number on the scale stalls, leaving you looking for to reason to tie up your walking shoes!) Here is a brief look at some of the many health benefits of physical activity.

Some immediate and short-term benefits of regular physical activity include:

• Increased endurance, strength, and flexibility
• Increased calorie expenditure
• Reduced anxiety, tension, and depression
• Reduced risk of falls and fractures
• More energy
• Improved ability to cope with stress
• Improved mood, greater self-esteem, and a greater sense of well-being
• Improved ability to fall asleep and sleep well

Some long-term benefits of regular physical activity include:

• Reduced risk of dying prematurely from all causes
• Healthier muscles, bones, and joints
• Reduced risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer
• Reduced risk of becoming obese
• Improved body composition
• Reduced spending on health care

When you take the time to consider the many possible life-improving, life-extending benefits of regular physical activity, you will probably have just one question: How do I start getting more active? Here's help.

_Source:

_{Fahey, Thomas D. Fit & Well: Core Concepts and Labs in Physical Fitness and Wellness. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. 5th Edition. 2002.}