The importance of physical activity for the public

Physical activity is the broad term used to describe any force exerted by skeletal muscle that results in energy expenditure above resting level. Thus physical activity includes any form of human movement including walking, cycling, play, active hobbies or manual occupations as well as structured exercise or sport.

Over the years, decline in routine physical activity has had a significant negative effect on public health. Researchers now recognise the potential to reverse the decline in physical activity such as through the school journey.

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of all cause mortality, meaning that being active reduces the overall risk of dying prematurely from any cause. Many studies show that the likelihood of death is lowest among those who are most active and the greatest benefits from increasing physical activity come to those who are least active to start with.
A review of 44 studies showed that higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality for women and men. There is an inverse dose-response relationship, meaning that as the level of physical activity increases, the risk of all-cause mortality decreases.

This reduced risk can be achieved through relatively modest amounts of physical activity. For example the British Heart Programme found that the mortality rate in men who walked less than one mile per day was nearly twice that of men who walked more than two miles per day. BHP reported that higher levels of leisure time physical activity were associated with lower levels of all cause mortality in both men and women. Cycling was featured strongly in this study. Cycling to work decreased the risk of dying by approximately 40%.

Lack of physical activity is one of the most important risk factors for Coronary Heart Disease. People who have a physical inactive lifestyle have up to double the risk of developing CHD compared to those who have an active lifestyle. Higher levels of physical fitness have also been shown to lessen the harmful effects of other CHD risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Regular physical activity can help reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension.

Other ways in which regular physical activity improves health are as follows:

·         Reduces the risk of dying prematurely

·         Reduces the risk of heart disease

·         Reduces the risk of developing diabetes

·         Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure

·         Reduces the risk of developing colon and breast cancer

·         Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety

·         Helps control weight

·         Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints

·         Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.

·         Promotes psychological well-being.

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