Physical inactivity has become a huge problem in this day and age, affecting people of all ages. According to the CDC, in 2018, only 24% of adults met the guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity. This is a problem because as people exercise less, they can develop conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. The issue is made worse because people are transitioning to a more sedentary lifestyle. Developments such as video games and social media have given people more distractions that can take time away from their days. In doing so, they have less time to spend to exercise. If this trend continues, it is scary to think about what people will have to do to adjust to a potential laundry list of physical and health problems.
Why should we care?
Physical activity is one of the best things that you can do to improve your long term health. From improving your mood, reducing chronic disease, to preventing early death, exercising just a little each day can go a long way in improving your quality of life.
Additional benefits for adults include:
- Lowers risk of high blood pressure
- Lowers risk of stroke
- Improves aerobic fitness
- Improves mental health
- Improves cognitive function
- Reduces arthritis symptoms
- Prevents weight gain
The goal of this blog is to encourage readers to make a behavior change in their lives and become more physically active. The great thing about physical activity is that it can be accomplished using many different methods, whether it is sports, weight-lifting, or running. This allows for personalization of your exercise routine to something that you yourself will enjoy. Doing so allows you to not only do something you enjoy, but to reap the benefits of physical activity and a healthier lifestyle.
For now, simple exercise goals that you can try out yourself are:
- To try one new exercise each month
- Work out at least 30 minutes a day 3 to 5 times a week
- Try to get better at the exercise you are doing whether it is improving your running time or increasing the amount of weight that you lift
Derrick's Fitness Blog 