Authors : Dihingia T .
Page Nos : 408-409
Description :
Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health
and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular
system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenan
ce, as well as for the purpose of enjoyment.
Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the "diseases of
affluence" such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. It also improves
mental
health, helps prevent depression, helps to promote or maintain positive self esteem, and can even
augment an individual's sex appeal or body image, which is also found to be linked with higher levels of
self esteem. Childhood obesity is a growing global co
ncern and physical exercise may help decrease some
of the effects of childhood and adult obesity. Health care providers often call exercise the "miracle" or
"wonder" drug
—
alluding to the wide variety of proven benefits that it provides. Exercise helps to c
ontrol
your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. your body weight is regulated
by the number of calories you eat and use each day. Everything you eat contains calories, and everything
you do uses calories, including sleepi
ng, breathing, and digesting food. Any physical activity in addition
to what you normally do will use extra calories. Regular exercise is an important part of effective weight
loss and weight maintenance. It also can help prevent several diseases and impro
ve your overall health. It
does not matter what type of physical activity you perform
--
sports, planned exercise, household chores,
yard work, or work
-
related tasks
--
all are beneficial. Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain it,
you should unders
tand the important role of physical activity and include it in your lifestyle.
