Regardless of your age, you need regular physical activity to stay in good shape. Many people today do not exercise enough. Why is exercise important?
Staying physically active can help you to:
1.
Sleep well.
2.
Stay
mobile.
3.
Maintain
strong bones and muscles.
4.
Maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
5.
Lower your risk of suffering from depression.
6. Lower your risk of premature death.
If you do not stay physically active, you are more likely to:
7.
Suffer from heart disease.
8.
Suffer from type 2 diabetes.
9.
Develop
high blood pressure.
10. Develop
high cholesterol.
11. Suffer
a stroke.
The kind of physical activity that is right for
you depends on your age and your health, so it would be wise to consult your
doctor before beginning any new exercise program. According to various
recommendations, children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of
moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. Adults should get 150 minutes of
moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity every week.
Choose an activity that is fun. You might
consider basketball, tennis, soccer, brisk walking, cycling, gardening,
chopping wood, swimming, canoeing, jogging, or other aerobic exercise. How can
you tell whether an activity is moderate or vigorous? A general guide would be
that moderate activity makes you sweat, but more vigorous exercise makes it
hard for you to hold a conversation while doing it.
