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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
Why is fitness important for my health?
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The benefits of being fit extend far beyond weight management. Research shows that regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of several diseases and health conditions and improve overall quality of life.
Regular physical activity can help protect you from the following health problems:
Heart disease and stroke
Daily physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke by strengthening your heart muscle, lowering your blood pressure, raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol) and lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (bad cholesterol), improving blood flow, and increasing your heart's working capacity.
High blood pressure
Regular physical activity can reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure levels. Physical activity reduces body fat, which is associated with high blood pressure.
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes
By reducing body fat, physical activity can help to prevent and control this type of diabetes.
Obesity
Physical activity helps to reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the body's ability to use calories. When physical activity is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases.
Back pain
By increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise helps to prevent back pain.
Osteoporosis
Regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation and may prevent many forms of bone loss associated with ageing.
Self-esteem and stress management
Studies on the psychological effects of exercise have found that regular physical activity can improve your mood and the way you feel about yourself. Researchers have found that exercise is likely to reduce depression and anxiety and help you to better manage stress.
Disability
Running and aerobic exercise have been shown to postpone the development of disability in older adults.
Being fit is important for younger generations too, especially with the rise of obesity in children. Heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, and social discrimination are just a few of the possible consequences of a childhood spent in front of the television or the internet.
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