Exercise and Physical Fitness Summary Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help Control your weight Lower your risk of heart disease Lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome Lower your risk of some cancers Strengthen your bones and muscles Improve your mental health and mood Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you’re an older adult Increase your chances of living longer Fitting regular exercise into your daily schedule may seem difficult at first. But even ten minutes at a time is fine. The key is to find the right exercise for you. It should be fun and should match your abilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Reference Desk ACSM Fit Society Page American College of Sports Medicine Definitions of Health Terms: Fitness National Library of Medicine Physical Activity: Glossary of Terms Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related Issues Active at Any Size National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Battling Boredom in Your Workout American Osteopathic Association Being Active: Calories Burned in One Hour Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Exercise for Your Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Exercise Habit American Academy of Family Physicians Exercise Headaches Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Exercise Intensity: Get the Most from Your Workouts Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Exercise Tips for Travelers National Institute on Aging Exercise: When to Check with Your Doctor First Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Finding Time for Fitness Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Fitness: Stay safe during hot-weather exercise Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Give Me an A for Activity! Motivating Others to Be Physically Active National Institute on Aging Joining a Gym Federal Trade Commission Measuring Physical Activity Intensity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Measuring Your Fitness Level Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Opportunities Abound for Moving Around: Get Active, Wherever You Are National Institutes of Health Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Selecting and Effectively Using a Health/Fitness Facility American College of Sports Medicine Target Heart Rates American Heart Association Tips for Buying Exercise Equipment Federal Trade Commission Walking Shoes: Features and Fit Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Warm Up and Cool Down: Reduce Risk of Injury and Improve Athletic Performance Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research When Is the Best Time of Day to Work Out? American Heart Association Specifics Aerobic Exercise: Top 10 Reasons to Get Physical Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Core Exercises: Why You Should Strengthen Your Core Muscles Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Functional Fitness Training: Is it Right for You? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Interval Training Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Pilates: Build Strength in Your Core Muscles Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Strength Training: For Overall Fitness Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Stretching Safely and Effectively Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Walking…A Step in the Right Direction! National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Walking: How to Get Started and Stay Motivated Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Weight Training: Do’s and Don’ts of Proper Technique Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Is Aerobic Dancing? Array Zumba: What is it? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Array Are You Getting Too Much Exercise? Dance Your Way to Fitness Epinephrine and exercise Exercise clothing and shoes Exercise, lifestyle, and your bones Exercises to help prevent falls Exercising on a budget Give your heart a workout How to avoid exercise injuries How to avoid overheating during exercise Indoor fitness routine Learn to love exercise Make time to move Outdoor fitness routine Physical activity Working with a personal trainer Yoga for health Start Here Be Active Your Way: A Guide for Adults Department of Health and Human Services Eating and Exercise Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Get Active Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Guide to Physical Activity National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute How Can I Keep Track of Physical Activity and Eating? American Heart Association Physical Activity for Everyone Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity Improves Quality of Life American Heart Association Tips to Help You Get Active National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Why Should I Be Physically Active? American Heart Association World Around You: Use What You Have to Stay Healthy and Fit National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health Check Tools Body Weight Planner National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases ChooseMyPlate.gov Department of Agriculture Exercise Counts: How Many Calories Will Your Activity Burn? American Cancer Society SuperTracker: My Foods. My Fitness. My Health. Department of Agriculture Target Heart Rate Calculator American Cancer Society Statistics and Research Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels among U.S. Youth Aged 12-15 Years: United States, 1999-2004 and 2012 National Center for Health Statistics CDC Vital Signs: More People Walk to Better Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Physical Activity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FastStats: Exercise or Physical Activity National Center for Health Statistics Measures of Muscular Strength in U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2012 National Center for Health Statistics Physical Activity in U.S. Youth Aged 12-15 Years, 2012 National Center for Health Statistics Trends in Adults Receiving a Recommendation for Exercise or Other Physical Activity from a Physician or Other Health Professional National Center for Health Statistics Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Physical Fitness National Institutes of Health Encyclopedia Exercise and immunity NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Fitness for Those with Disabilities and Older Adults From the Director, “Stay Active and Save Your Life!” Teenagers Getting Exercise in College Nemours Foundation Patient Handouts How to Take Your Heart Rate Department of Veterans Affairs Latest News Increased Physical Activity Associated With Lower Risk of 13 Types of Cancer National Cancer Institute Exercise May Counter Harms from Too Much Sitting, Study Says HealthDay Exercise Is Good for You, Even in Polluted Cities: Study HealthDay Right Neighborhood May Mean 90 Extra Minutes of Exercise a Week HealthDay Exercise Helps Ease Psychosis Symptoms HealthDay Too Few Americans Take Advantage of Local Parks HealthDay Exercise May Extend Lives of People with COPD HealthDay Experts Rank America’s ‘Fittest Cities’ — Is Yours One of Them? HealthDay Exercise Doesn’t Seem to Affect Breast Density HealthDay As Fitness Levels Rise, Diabetes Risk Drops HealthDay Regular Exercise May Boost Prostate Cancer Survival HealthDay Exercise May Cut Risk of 13 Cancers, Study Suggests HealthDay Inactive Women May Face Higher Risk for Cervical Cancer HealthDay Building Muscle Could Boost the Body’s Most Important Muscle HealthDay Message for Heart Failure Patients: Exercise HealthDay Health Tip: Exercise for A Healthier Heart HealthDay Biking or Walking to Work Helps Keep You Fit HealthDay Gotta Minute? Get a Good Workout HealthDay Intensive Exercise a Fountain of Youth for Aging Muscles HealthDay Find an Expert National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Weight-Control Information Network National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Women Physical Activity (Exercise) Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Journal Articles Exercise and Physical Fitness
