Physical Activity Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The Impact of Physical Activity in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The relevance of regular physical activity cannot be overstated. A review of current literature clearly demonstrates that physical activity not only promotes the overall wellbeing of an individual, but also plays a key role in the prevention of various chronic illnesses. In the words of Warburton, Nicol and Bredin (2006), “physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a widening variety of other chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cancer (colon and breast)…..” The authors further state that conditions such as depression, joint and bone diseases, as well as obesity tend to be common amongst those who are physically inactive. With heart disease being billed as one of the most serious health concerns in the U.S., The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (2015) points out that individuals ought to commit at least two hours and thirty minutes per week to aerobic activity (moderate-intensity) so as to keep cardiovascular complications at bay. Recent studies have also indicated that 120 - 150 minutes of aerobic activity (moderate-intensity) is associated with lower rates of metabolic syndrome and diabetes (CDC). CDC also points out that people who are regarded physically active also suffer a lower risk of colon and breast cancer, in comparison to those who do not regularly engage in physical activity. It is also important to note that engaging in physical activities or exercising regularly does help in the reduction of body fat, hence effectively reducing an individual’s chances of being obese. Obesity has been linked to high blood pressure and, in some cases, reduced quality of life. CDC also links physical activity to enhanced mental health. This effectively means that in addition to disease prevention, physical activity is also key towards the improvement of psychological health and wellbeing. In the final analysis, therefore, “people who are physically active for about 7 hours a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than those who are active less than 30 minutes a week” (CDC, 2015).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (2015). Physical Activity and Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
Warburton, D.E., Nicol, C.W. & Bredin, S.S. (2006). Health Benefits of Physical Activity: The Evidence. CMAJ, 174(6), 801 – 809.