Physical activity is something

you do. Physical fitness is

something you acquire, a
characteristic or an attribute one
can achieve by being physically
active. And exercise is structured
and tends to have fitness as its
goal"

What is Physical Activity

Physical

activity
Bodily movement produced by skeletal
muscles that results in an expenditure of
energy

Physical fitness

A measure of a person's ability to

perform physical activities that require
endurance, strength, or flexibility.
Regular

physical activity

A pattern of physical activity is regular if

activities are performed in some order

Health is a dynamic process because it is always

changing. We all have times of good health, times
of sickness, and maybe even times of serious
illness. As our lifestyles change, so does our level
of health.
Those of us who participate in regular physical
activity do so partly to improve the current and
future level of our health. We strive toward an
optimal state of well-being. As our lifestyle
improves, our health also improves and we
experience less disease and sickness. When most
people are asked what it means to be healthy,
they normally respond with the four components
of fitness mentioned earlier (cardiorespiratory
ability, muscular ability, flexibility, and body
composition). Although these components are a
critical part of being healthy, they are not the only
contributing factors. Physical health is only one
aspect of our overall health.

components of health
Social health-The ability to interact well
with people and the environment and to
have satisfying personal relationships.
Mental health-The ability to learn and
grow intellectually. Life experiences as well
as more formal structures (e.g., school)
enhance mental health.
Emotional health-The ability to control
emotions so that you feel comfortable
expressing them and can express them
appropriately.
Spiritual health-A belief in some unifying
force. It varies from person to person but
has the concept of faith at its core.

Recreation is an activity of
leisure,
leisure
being
discretionary time. The "need
to do something for recreation"
is an essential element of
human
biology
and
psychology.Recreational
activities are often done for
enjoyment, amusement, or
pleasure and are considered to
be "fun".

Physical Benefits of Recreation

Taking part in recreational activities, particularly
outdoors, can improve your physical wellness.
In fact, people who frequently take advantage
of park activities have fewer doctor visits, lower
body mass indexes and lower systolic blood
pressures than those who don't, according to Dr.
Laura L. Payne of the University of Illinois. A
2005 California State Parks report also
highlights that outdoor recreation provides an
excellent opportunity to increase exercise. It
cites a 2001 study revealing that the availability
of recreational facilities in a location impacts
the amount of physical activity in which
residents participate.

LEISURE LOWERS STRESS AND DEPRESSION

Mental wellness is an important part of your

overall health and can impact your physical
well-being. Participating in leisure and
recreation activities can help you better
manage stress and reduce depression.
Leisure provides you the chance to find
balance in your life; it also puts you in
control of how you're spending your time,
which is an important consideration because
you may feel overwhelmed by obligations.
Taking part in leisure activities as a family is
also beneficial for your kids because you're
modeling healthy ways to handle stress and
emotions. Participating in leisure activities
regularly reduces depression; in fact, just
thinking about past outdoor recreation
experiences can improve mood, according to

Improve Your Quality of Life

Finding balance is also a reason why leisure and
recreation can enhance your quality of life.
Physical recreation, in particular, is associated
with improved self-esteem. In addition, you're
more likely to feel satisfied about your life when
you regularly take part in recreation activities.
This has significant implications for your mental
health and, in turn, your physical health. In fact,
90 percent of respondents in a 2000 American
Recreation Coalition study reported being
satisfied with their health and fitness. In
contrast, 60 percent of those who didn't take
part in such activity reported not being satisfied
with their health and fitness.

Differences between
Exercise
Its a form of physical
and Sport
activity done primarily to
improve ones health and
fitness.
Sports
Is complex, institutionalized,
competitive and these
very characteristics works
against moderate and
rhythmical exercise.
CDC 1999

Exercise

Common Reasons Not To

Exercise
I

dont have the

time
I dont like to
sweat
Ill look silly
It hurts
I dont know what
to do
Its not important

Why Exercise ???

Do you know?
13.5

million people have coronary heart

disease.
1.5 million people suffer from a heart
attack in a given year.
250,000 people suffer from hip fractures
each year.
Over 60 million people (a third of the
population) are overweight.
50 million people have high blood pressure.
(WHO, 2003)

All of these can be Prevented by

Regular Physical Activity !!!

How Physical Activity Impacts Health

Helps

control weight.
Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.
Helps build and maintain healthy bones,
muscles, and joints.
Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.
Helps reduce blood pressure in people who
already have high blood pressure.
Causes the development of new blood
vessels in the heart and other muscles.
Enlarges the arteries that supply blood to the
heart.
WHO 2002

What
Can
Exercise
do
for
You?

Reduce the risk of the three leading causes of death: Heart

Disease, stroke, and cancer

Control

or prevent development of Disease

Enhance

Mental Abilities

Improve

Sleeping Habits and Increase Energy Levels

Lift

Depression and Help Manage Stress

Control

Weight, improving self-image, appearance and healt

Exercise & Cardiovascular

Disease

FACT
Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for CVD,
according to the American Heart Association

Exercise reduces Blood Pressure

High

blood pressure (above 140/90) is the

main cause of Heart Attack and Stroke

Exercise prevents Atherosclerosis

(clogged arteries)
Exercise

reduces cholesterol plaques that

clog arteries and can lead to stroke and
heart attack WHO 2002

Exercise and Depression

Exercise can help prevent depression.
In fact, recent studies have shown that
exercise was found to be just as
effective (despite a slower initial
response) as antidepressant medication
for treatment of depression.
Exercise

reduces health problems , making

you feel better
Exercise helps you sleep better
Exercise controls weight, enhancing selfesteem
WHO 2002

Aerobic Activity
Definition
Continuous movement that uses big muscle
groups and is performed at an intensity that
causes your heart, lungs, and vascular
system to work harder than at rest
Cardio respiratory Fitness is built through
aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise conditions and strengthens
our heart, respiratory system, muscles, and
immune system
CDC physical activity report 1999

Exercise for Women in

developing countries
There

has been several studies

which have shown that less
emphasis is given to exercise
especially in women
The reasons are several and
most important one is awareness.
Women sports are not
encouraged in most of developing
countries
There is stigma that women
should not be involved in outdoor
sports

Exercise is for everyone

There

is need for awareness for

physical fitness in developing
countries
Exercise is not only for men but for
everyone
With commitment, opportunities can
be developed.
Even shopping malls provide
opportunities for fitness walking
CDC 1997