Physical Activity
The health
benefits of regular physical activity are well-documented. According to
the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health,
moderate physical activity can reduce one's
risk of developing or dying from:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Colon cancer
- High blood pressure
Because heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the
United States, engaging in physical activity is particularly important.
Physical activity can also benefit those with joint or bone problems, such
as arthritis and osteoporosis.1
Physical activity
is important for people of all ages.
- Children and adolescents need to be
physically active for normal skeletal development to occur.
- Young adults
need to achieve and maintain peek bone mass, and older adults can maintain
their functional independence longer if they are stronger and more agile.
Physical activity is also vital part of weight control and has been shown to
improve mental health and reduce depression.1
Despite the clear health benefits of physical activity, few people take
part. Consider that:
- In 1997, only 11% of adults said they engaged in regular, vigorous physical activity
for 20 minutes or longer, 3 or more days per week, and only 23% reported
engaging in moderate activity for 30 minutes a day for 5 or more days per
week.
There are disparities within certain population groups:
- Women are less likely to exercise than men, and African Americans
and Hispanics are less likely to exercise than whites.
- People with lower
incomes are also less likely to exercise than those who are more affluent.
As age increases, the amount of time exercising decreases. Vigorous
physical activity decreases sharply for adolescents between grades 9 and
12, particularly among girls.1
Opportunities for Physical Activity
Physical activity
is important for all people at all ages and ability levels. Everyone
should make regular activity a part of their lives. The following
recommendations for enhancing activity levels are from Healthy People
2010:1
- Youth should be
encouraged to engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity. Parents
should model this behavior and plan family activities accordingly. Schools
should encourage and provide opportunities for children to be physically
active.
- Communities need
to assure access to convenient and affordable facilities and safe
environments in which citizens can be active.
- Facilities should
be accessible to people with disabilities.
- Health care
providers should counsel patients about the need to be physically active.
1
Implications for Prevention
Overweight and obesity can be prevented, or at least
further weight gain can be controlled, therefore reducing the associated
health risks. Several strategies have been suggested, including:1
- Establishing healthy eating habits and a physically
active lifestyle in childhood. Parents can positively influence
preschool children to eat well, and school-aged children should receive
nutrition education as part of a comprehensive health education program.
- Providing public education about the long-term health
consequences of being overweight and information about how to achieve
and maintain a healthy weight.
- Having the food industry, including restaurants,
supermarkets, and fast-food outlets, provide customers with
nutrition information and ensuring that healthy food choices are
available.
1U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. Healthy
People 2010. Washington, DC: January 2000.
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