What are the Benefits of Physical Activity?


The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently published a new set of physical activity guidelines to encourage individuals around the world to perform recommended levels of physical activity to maintain their health.


In accordance with these new physical activity guidelines, WHO has also published a list of the benefits of physical activity, according to different age groups. Keep reading to find out what the benefits of physical activity for your age group are below.

Benefits in Children and Adolescents


Adequate amounts of physical activity in children and adolescents can provide many health benefits including improving:


  • Physical fitness

  • Cardiometabolic health

  • Bone health

  • Cognitive outcomes

  • Mental health Reduced adiposity

Benefits in adults and older adults


In adults and older adults, higher levels of physical activity may improve health by:


  • Reducing the risk of all-cause mortality

  • Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality

  • Helping to prevent the severity of falls Improving sleep quality

  • Benefiting cognitive health

  • Contributing to positive mental health (reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression).

Benefits in pregnant women


According to WHO, adequate levels of physical activity may also help pregnant and postpartum women by providing them with many health benefits. These potential benefits include:


  • Decreasing the risk of delivery complications
  • Decreasing the risk of postpartum depression
  • Reducing newborn complications
  • Preventing excessive gestational weight gain
Overall, the WHO sites that physical activity can have many potential health benefits for individuals. Regular physical activity is key as it can improve muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness, improve bone and function health, help your body maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

Speak with a health practitioner such as a chiropractor for more information about the potential health benefits of physical activity and the WHO’s physical activity guidelines.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Causes of Jaw Pain

Image
While up to a quarter of all adults in Australia live with some form of jaw pain, treatment and the causes of the pain are often overlooked. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts as a hinge and connects the  jaw (mandible) to the skull. It is one of the most used joints in the body, which is why TMJ disorders and jaw pain are quite common.     Keep reading to find out about some of the most common causes of jaw pain and what you can do to find relief. Common Causes of TMJ Dysfunction  TMJ dysfunction contributes to jaw pain, joint stiffness, difficulty chewing and clicking and locking of the jaw joint.    Common causes of a TMJ disorder orTMJ dysfunction:  Arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis Joint erosion  The joint is damaged or is misaligned Existing injury or trauma including a broken or dislocated jaw Myofascial pain Tight muscles Grinding or clenching of the teeth Structural jaw problems present at...
Read more

6 Conditions People Commonly See A Chiropractor For

Image
When people think of chiropractors, they often think of people who just treat back pain.  While chiropractors certainly have a clinical interest in musculoskeletal conditions, as health practitioners they also address a variety of issues including headaches, nerve pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Below are eight of the most common conditions people see a chiropractor for. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) It is annoying and hard to say and so is living with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. A TMJ chiropractor uses a variety of manual techniques to relieve jaw pain, including adjustments and massage. If you're struggling with jaw pain, consider talking to a chiropractor about your options. Neck Pain There are a number of factors that may contribute to an individual's neck pain. One of the first steps of chiropractic care is to assess your pain and determine the cause.  Back Pain Chiropractors use a variety of non-surgical treatments and hand-on-approach, such as spinal manipulat...
Read more