Physical Activity and Exercise

Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It is essential to maintain physical health, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life. There are many different types of physical activity modalities that can be used to achieve these goals. These include aerobic fitness, strength training, flexibility and mobility exercises, and strength endurance activities.

Physical activity is any bodily movement that is produced by the skeletal muscles and results in energy expenditure. Regular physical activity can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It can also help to maintain a healthy weight, improve physical fitness, and promote mental wellbeing.

It is important to understand the difference between exercise and physical activity in order to develop an effective plan for achieving your goals. Exercise is a specific type of physical activity that involves structured activities with the goal of improving one or more components of fitness such as aerobic capacity or muscular strength. On the other hand, physical activity includes all forms of movement that contribute to daily life such as walking, cycling, gardening and playing sports.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends adults aged 18-64 years should do at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent combination spread throughout the week. It is recommended that strength training is completed at least 2 days a week and flexibility exercises are completed on a daily basis.