What is it?
Physical activity concerns every movement whose body muscles is involved and that generates an energy expenditure to be performed. Some examples are activities such as going up and down a ladder, pushing a furniture or sweeping the house. Erroneously, many people confuse it with physical exercise, which is the performance of physical activities in a coordinated and planned way with a final goal that is usually health and aesthetics.
What is physical activity for?
Many are the benefits of practicing physical activities in almost all areas of life. In this sense, the WHO through the Guideline for Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior guides the population that when done regularly has the role of preventing diseases, reducing mortality from all preventable causes, controlling heart disease, diabetes, reducing symptoms of depression, improving learning, and positively influencing mood.
How does physical activity work?
Also according to the WHO (2020), the practice of 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate physical activity generates benefits for health and well-being. This recommendation is intended for adults, but it is known the advantages of performing physical activities for both children, adolescents and the elderly, whose need for muscle strengthening is closely linked to autonomy and health in the final stage of life.
Who needs to do it?
Regardless of gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic level, performing physical activity following the recommendations is indispensable for those seeking health. A combination of moderate or high-intensity aerobic activities, with muscle conditioning programs, is the ideal combination for the prevention of sedentary lifestyle and future diseases. Thus, outdoor activities done individually or in groups should be a priority in the daily routine.
Reference
Kanaley, J. A., Colberg, S. R., Corcoran, M. H., Malin, S. K., Rodriguez, N. R., Crespo, C. J., Kirwan, J. P., & Zierath, J. R. (2022). Exercise/Physical Activity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Statement from the American College of Sports Medicine. Medicine and science in sports and exercise
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(2), 353–368. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002800
Tip:
Nutrition and physical activity to prevent cognitive decline and dementia
