If more people routinely engaged in physical fitness than there would be less problems associated with obesity and overweight in this country. The number of people diagnosed with weight problems related to physical inactivity has skyrocketed in recent years. Unfortunately the number of people overweight or obese is steadily increasing, among the young and old alike. Along with the increase in weight have come a host of other physical ailments including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, sleep apnea and more.
Adopting A Daily Physical Fitness Routine
It is important that everyone incorporate some form of physical activity into his or her life each day. Now this doesn't mean you have to run five miles a day six days a week to reap the benefits of a little physical fitness. All most people need to do to improve their physical fitness level is incorporate a few activities into their day that increase their heart rate and breathing or help improve flexibility and strength. Simple activities including mowing the lawn, gardening or even going for a walk with the kid's quality as physical activity.
Why so much pressure to be physically fit? Regular exercise offers a multitude of health benefits. Not only will regular physical fitness keep your weight in check, it also accomplishes the following health benefits:
- Decreases your risk for Type 2 diabetes.
- Improves your muscle strength and endurance, which can decrease your risk for osteoporosis.
- Improves your cardiovascular strength and decreases your risk of developing coronary heart disease.
- Decreases your risk for high blood pressure.
- Regular exercise may decrease your risk for developing certain cancers including colon cancer.
A healthy lifestyle is easy to adopt and can even help slow the aging process. Families that workout together or engage in active activities are more likely to report living happy, healthy and fulfilling lifestyles. The more physically fit you are the less likely you will need frequent trips to the doctors office each year. A physically fit body is more likely to fight off infection and disease.
Physical Fitness and Body Image
Physical fitness is particularly important for women and can help improve their self-esteem and body image. This is true for women young and old alike. Women tend to obsess more about their physical appearance including their size and shape then many men do. Body image is created, shaped and molded throughout our lives. The earlier a woman starts adopting a healthy attitude the less likely she is to suffer body images issues throughout her life.
What can contribute to a healthy body image? Physical fitness and healthy eating can help not only keep the body in great shape but also help a woman feel better about her body. Healthy eating and routine physical activity help decrease stress and anxiety and boost the body's production of feel good hormones or endorphins that keep us feeling upbeat and positive about our body image.
Physical fitness is particularly important for young girls and teens. Young women should regularly engage in some sort of physical education or extracurricular activity that not only challenges their minds but also their bodies. This will help improve their self-confidence and hopefully contribute to healthy eating habits. Parents can help by setting the example and encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors in the home.
This means not obsessing about fat, calories and body image but focusing instead on making healthy selections and engaging in routine physical activity. These small but important steps may mean the difference between life and death for young women. A healthy body image will set the stage for a lifetime of fulfillment, happiness and success.
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