What is Physical Activity?

Physical Fitness::What is Physical Activity?

Fun Fitness

You look better when you're in shape. Staying active helps you tone muscles and maintain a healthy weight - and can even improve your posture.

Staying active can be a great way to have fun, make new friends, and spend quality time with family.
Being in good shape can give you more energy, reduce anxiety and depression, improve self-esteem, and help you better manage stress.

By definition, physical activity is any bodily movement produced by your muscles that results in burning energy and can include a wide range of actions at work, during leisure-time or performing routine, daily tasks.

These physical activities can require light, moderate, or vigorous effort and can lead to improved health if practiced regularly.

Exercise is activity that is planned or structured. It involves repetitive bodily movement to improve or maintain physical fitness.

What the U.S. Surgeon General Says About Physical Activity

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, everyone needs a total of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Children need even more.

Despite the health benefits of physical activity, only 36.1% of adults in Tennessee meet the recommended amount of activity. Approximately 33.1% are not active at all.

Physical inactivity is more common among:

Women than men
African American and Hispanic adults
Older adults than younger adults

To visit the Surgeon General’s web site, where you can find more GetFit tips for getting active and improving your health click here.

GetFit Tips were taken from www.fitness.gov, the President’s Council on Fitness and Sport web site, and www.CDC.gov by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.