How Will YOU Benefit from Being More Active?

There is no doubt about it... people of all ages can improve the quality of their lives through a lifelong practice of physical activity.

Being active has so many benefits...

• better health
• weight control
• feeling more energetic
• enhanced self-esteem
• stronger muscles and bones
• improved fitness
• relaxation and reduced stress
• improved posture and balance
• continued independent living in later life...and the list goes on and on!

Regular physical activity can improve health by reducing your risk of developing:

• High blood pressure/hypertension, and it helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure/hypertension
• High cholesterol and elevated triglycerides, while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDL or the "good cholesterol)
• Colon cancer
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

As well, it reduces your risk of having a:

• Stroke
• Second heart attack in people who have already had one heart attack
• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

It also:

• Helps people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
• Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety
• Promotes psychological well-being and reduces feelings of stress
• Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints
• Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling or becoming excessively fatigued

Information from/adapted from the following References:

1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living. (Updated: May 2010) Date viewed: May 2010.
2. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pag-gap/index-eng.php