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Physical Activity

Physical activity is any movement that increases your heart rate and breathing. Activities of daily living, active play, sports, and exercise programs represent categories of physical activity that include varying intensity levels - mild, moderate and vigorous.

 

 

Benefits of physical activity:

  • Better health
  • Improved fitness
  • Stronger muscles and bones
  • Helps you feel more energetic
  • Improved mental health
  • Maintain mobility and be able to be independent as you get older
  • Helps you cope with stress

Regular physical activity lowers the risk of:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Certain types of cancer (such as breast cancer, colon cancer)
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Osteoporosis
  • Premature death

What’s the difference between physical inactivity
and sedentary behaviour?

Physical Inactivity Sedentary Behaviour
  • Physical inactivity means not meeting the minimum recommendations of the guidelines.
  • The benefits of physical activity come from being physically active.
  • Sedentary Behaviour describes any low intensity activity that you do while you are awake such as sitting or lying down.
  • An individual can meet the physical activity guidelines and still be sedentary if they sit or lie down for prolonged periods of time while awake.
  • To reduce the risk of being sedentary, you need to move more and sit less.

Exercise

Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for various reasons such as sports, group training, or overall well being.

Pre-Screening for Physical Activity Participation

For most people, participating in physical activity is safe. If you have never been active or have been inactive for a while, it is recommended that you complete a physical activity “Get Active” questionnaire. It can help you decide when to check with a healthcare provider before you begin.

Get Active Questionnaire

 
Date of creation: February 27, 2013
Last modified on: September 18, 2024

Resources

 

Related Content

 

References

1Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2016). Guidelines. Retrieved from
http://www.csep.ca/home
2DocMikeEvans. (2016). The Importance of Intensity in Physical Activity. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMn8Tq5Eyao
3DocMikeEvans. (2011). 23 and ½ hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
4Sedentary Behavior Research Network. (2017). What is Sedentary Behavior? Retrieved from
http://www.sedentarybehaviour.org/what-is-sedentary-behaviour