MOVEMENT REQUIRED

THINK ABOUT IT

The benefits of physical activity on mind, body, and health.

Exercise and physical activity are often thought of in two different lights: fun and energizing or painful and exhausting. These are generally both accurate statements about exercise but not such for physical activity. Did you know that increasing physical activity, through exercise or otherwise, has benefits beyond body shape? Increased physical activity can increase memory and brain function, decrease body fat and increase energy, and reduce risk of disease. Just by reducing the time we spend sitting has been shown to increase our life expectancy. In a study by some researchers in Ottawa and Baton Rouge found that “daily time spent sitting was associated with an elevated risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality” (Katzmarzyk, Church, Craig, & Bouchard, 2009, p. 1004). This suggests that just not sitting is a beneficial form of physical activity. So, why are you sitting there reading this? Get up!