The Many Benefits of Exercise
Did you know there are many benefits of exercise beyond improving your body composition? Today we're going over why exercise is so important and the many reasons why regular movement should be a part of your daily life.
What is classified as exercise? Exercise is defined as the “performance of active or passive movements to restore, maintain, or improve the health of the body.” There are several reasons as to why exercise is important:
Wellness and overall health Rehabilitation Improves ability to perform day to day movements Improves sport or activity Increases strength Increases confidence and self-esteem Increases energy Decreases stress Improves mood & emotional health Improves physical appearance Psychological benefits Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, obesity, and stroke
A common reason why someone may decide to become physically active is to improve the way one feels. People who exercise regularly report feeling better overall than people with a more sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity is one of the most important things we can do for our health, but many don't get enough. Below are some insightful data points:
More than 80% of adults don’t meet the guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities More than 80% of adolescents don’t get enough aerobic physical activity to meet youth guidelines Less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical exercise each day Only 1 in 3 children are physically active every day, but average 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen
It is scientifically proven that “regular participation in physical activity reduces the risk of dying prematurely.” Among adults aged 40 to 69 and 70 or older, inactive adults had an increased risk of premature death compared with sufficiently active adults. The importance of exercising for living a long, healthy life can't be overstated. So while we often think we're exercising just for our goals, remember that when we exercise, we are always improving our overall health too!
