Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It has many benefits, including improving your overall health and fitness, and reducing your risk for many chronic diseases. There are many different types of exercise; it is important that you pick the right types for you. Most people benefit from a combination of them
Quality of Life Physically active adults and older adults are likely to report having a better quality of life. Being physically active also improves the sense of a better quality of life among people who have schizophrenia and related disorders.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders. Participating in moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity over longer durations (weeks or months of regular physical activity) reduces symptoms of
anxiety in adults and older adults
Sleep In addition to feeling better, adults who are more physically active sleep better. Greater volumes of moderateto-vigorous physical activity are associated with reduced sleep latency (taking less time to fall asleep), improved sleep effciency (higher percentage of time in bed actually sleeping), improved sleep quality, and more deep sleep. Greater volumes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are also associated with signifcantly less daytime sleepiness, better sleep quality, and reduced frequency of use of sleep-aid medications. The improvements in sleep with regular physical activity are also reported by people with insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.
Cancer
Physically active adults have a signifcantly lower risk of developing several commonly occurring cancers, as well as lower risk of several other cancers. Research shows that adults who participate in greater amounts of physical activity have reduced risks of developing cancers of the:
• Bladder;
• Breast;
• Colon (proximal and distal);
• Endometrium;
• Esophagus (adenocarcinoma);
• Kidney;
• Lung; and
• Stomach (cardia and non-cardia adenocarcinoma).
Moderate-intensity physical activity is safe for generally healthy women during pregnancy. Physical activity
reduces the risk of excessive weight gain and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Physical activity
increases cardiorespiratory ftness without increasing the risk of negative pregnacy outcomes, such as low
birth weight, preterm delivery, or early pregnancy loss. Physical activity during the postpartum period (frst
year after delivery) also improves the mother’s cardiorespiratory ftness, decreases symptoms of postpartum
depression, and, when combined with caloric restriction, can help her return to her pre-pregnancy body weight
after delivery.
