Physical Activity

Benefits of Physical Activity

Physical activity offers a range of benefits for all ages and abilities.

For children/youth

Physical activity is essential for healthy growth and development. Regular physical activity in childhood develops cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and bone density¹. For example, 35 to 40 per cent of a person's total bone mass is laid down in four years of adolescence².

Physical activity helps maintain a healthy body weight and also has beneficial effects on adiposity in overweight and obese youth, and on several components associated with mental health (self-concept, anxiety and depression).^2a Physical activity helps reduce a number of risk factors for diseases such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes by setting positive habits early on in childhood and adolescence.

Young people who are physically active are less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.³

For adults

Physical activity appears to reduce the risk of over 25 chronic conditions, in particular coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, breast cancer, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.^3a

Regular physical activity and higher levels of fitness allow daily tasks to be accomplished with greater ease and comfort, and with less fatigue. Functional decline with advancing age is no longer accepted so lightly as research shows that as much as one half of the decline between the ages of 30 and 70 is due not to aging itself but to an inactive way of life.⁵

There is a positive relationship between workplace physical activity programs and job satisfaction. Higher job satisfaction, in turn, can lead to better employee morale, increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism.⁶

Leisure-time physical activity provides a balance to the demands of family and work.⁴

Active individuals typically report improvement in energy levels, job attitude, and overall morale.⁷

A Canada Life Assurance Company study noted an increase in productivity in fitness program participants compared to their inactive colleagues. Workplace physical activity programs reduce absenteeism due to illness, injury and stress.⁸

Workplace physical activity policies and programs can improve:

• coping abilities for stress
• fitness and health
• morale
• general work performance
• job satisfaction
• organizational effectiveness
• productivity

programs can also reduce:

• absenteeism
• injuries and accidents
• turnover
• disability/compensation costs
• health care costs
• life insurance costs

For seniors

Weight-bearing physical activity reduces the rate of bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Regular physical activity maintains strength and flexibility, and balance and coordination, and can help reduce the risk of falls - a real worry for the elderly.⁹

Increasing age is associated with increased limitation in the ability to carry out basic activities of daily living. A significant portion of the decline in functional capacity associated with aging is due to physical inactivity.¹⁰

In short, physical activity helps prolong good health and independence.

For persons with a disability

The active living movement removes the yardstick in comparing one person to another. It lets people set their own standards, and reap the social, emotional, spiritual and physical benefits of choosing their own activities. It is clear that people with a disability have much to gain from physical activity. It helps make coping with the everyday challenges of life easier, and can even prevent relapses of certain disabilities. It can also increase the energy a person has to deal with the physical and mental stresses of a disability.

From a physical health perspective, active living increases mobility, improves posture, and reduces aches and pains that can accompany long periods of sitting. Better circulation reduces the possibility of blood-pooling and swelling in the legs. Maintenance of a healthy weight helps those who use aids to get around more easily.

For the environment

Active living protects and promotes a healthy environment by encouraging Canadians to participate in outdoor activities like walking, cycling and gardening. There are environmental benefits when Canadians choose active modes of transportation such as walking, cycling or in-line skating rather than using their cars for a few more trips per week. Therefore, active living can contribute to decreasing air pollution.

Through active outdoor physical activities (walking, gardening and cycling), Canadians not only improve their health but also help the environment.¹¹

References

1. R. Malina "Benefits of activity from a lifetime perspective." In Quinney A, Gauvin L, Wall AE (eds.) Toward Active Living: Proceedings of an International Conference on Physical Activity, Fitness and Health. Human Kinetics, Champaign Illinois, 1994

2. D. Bailey (1998). Interview on the CBC The Nature of Things, March 5, 1998.

2a. W.B. Strong et al. Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. J. Pediatrics. 146, 732-737, 2005.

3. A.J. King, B. Coles The health of Canada's youth: views and behaviours of 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds from 11 countries. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services. 1992

3a. D. Warburton et al. Evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for Canadian adults. APNM 32: S16-s68, 2007.

4. H. Hansen "Barriers of QDPE and how to overcome them" CAHPER Journal 1990; 56: 16-21

5. E.H. Wagner, A.Z. Lacroix "Effects of physical activity on health status in older adults I: observational studies." Annual Review of Public Health 1992; 13:451 468

6. M. Cox, and others. "The Influence of an Employee Fitness Program Upon Fitness, Productivity, and Absenteeism," Ergonomics, 1981;24:795-806.

7. W.S. Elias, R.J. Murphy "The case for health promotion programs containing health care costs: A review of the literature", American Journal of Occupational Therapy 1986 40:759.

8. R.J. Shephard "Twelve years experience of a fitness program for the salaried employees of a Toronto life assurance company. American Journal of Health Promotion 1992 6:292-301

9. J.A. Stevens, K.E. Powell, S.M. Smith et al "physical activity, functional limitations, and the risk of fall-related fractures in community-dwelling elderly." Annals of Epidemiology 1997 7:54-61

10. E.H. Wagner, A.Z. Lacroix "Effects of physical activity on health status in older adults I: observational studies." Annual Review of Public Health 1992 13:451 468

11. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (1996) Popular Physical Activities. Progress in Prevention Bulletin no. 3