The Importance of Maintaining a Reasonable Level of Activity for Health, Coursework Example

Establishing the appropriate level of physical activity is critical to preserve health and wellbeing. Many individuals do not obtain sufficient exercise in their daily or weekly routines and as a result, face problematic health concerns, such as chronic illness. It is important for individuals to recognize the value of regular exercise to achieve their personal health objectives and to experience greater physical endurance and strength. The expansion of physical activity is important for persons of all ages and population groups to achieve greater strength, mobility, and general wellbeing.

In the 21^st Century, physical activity is often limited by sedentary lifestyles which prohibit optimal health and wellbeing. For Americans, diet and exercise are of critical concern and continue be problematic on many levels as obesity rates continue to climb (HealthyPeople.gov). Obesity rates are at an all time high, with 34 percent of all adults and 16. 2 percent of all children classified as obese (HealthyPeople.gov). Diet is a critical problem for these individuals, but exercise is also significant and warrants further evaluation. For many people, the attractiveness of television viewing or video game playing outweigh the want or need to develop an exercise routine. This logic must be reversed and expanded opportunities for physical activity must be provided to improve overall health for all persons.

Physical activity provides significant benefits to all persons, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or health status. There are different levels of physical activity that many people undertake, and the level depends on age, weight, and other related factors. For those persons who lead sedentary lifestyles, they often have many excuses for not wanting to exercise, such as lack of energy or enthusiasm, time constraints, and general laziness. However, physical activity must be encouraged and promoted across all age groups to improve wellbeing and longevity. For most persons who do not currently participate in regular physical activities, the key is to begin slowly and increase the level of intensity over a period of time (CDC). Moderate physical activity such as walking will be effective for beginners in order to build stamina and increase overall physical strength (CDC). For those persons who already have a chronic illness, there may be limits to physical activity, but this does not mean that activity should not be introduced into the daily routine (CDC). Those persons with diabetes or hypertension must exercise to reduce symptoms and long-term damage from these conditions (CDC).

Perhaps most important to an increase in physical activity is its impact on weight. It is known that individuals who exercise on a regular basis are likely to reduce their weight in combination with a healthy diet (CDC). In addition, routine exercise also promotes a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes for many patients, even if they have a genetic predisposition for these conditions (CDC). These conditions demonstrate that physical activity is essential to achieve optimal physical conditioning, especially for adults (CDC). It is important to recognize these benefits in the adult years because they will enable individuals to achieve important health milestones more effectively without significant complications.

Physical activity serves as a means of improving health and wellbeing through various channels. It is important to recognize the recommended levels of physical activity for each age group in order to achieve optimal health. For example, adolescents through the age of 17 should obtain around 60 minutes of physical activity daily, while adults between the ages of 18 and 64 should obtain approximately 150 minutes of exercise per week which may be divided into 30-minute intervals (fitness.gov). For these age groups, moderate aerobic activity is recommended for those persons who are able to handle this type of activity in small intervals (fitness.gov). Furthermore, all age groups will benefit from physical activities that are designed to strengthen and tone muscles across different areas of the body (fitness.gov). For older adults, it is also recommended that physical activities should involve methods of strengthening bones, particularly when osteoporosis is a likely factor , especially for women (fitness.gov).Regardless of the age group, physical activity is essential for the greater good of body organs and systems.

There are likely to be many reasons why individuals are unwilling or unable to obtain the appropriate amount of physical activity. However, it is necessary for all persons to obtain the recommended levels of activity so that they are able to achieve greater health and wellbeing. Under these conditions, it is necessary to develop strategies that will keep individuals motivated under a variety of conditions to improve health. However, a dedicated focus must be established that will encourage the development of specific activities that will become part of the daily routine for people of all ages. Since there are many health issues to consider with respect to chronic illness and predisposing genetic factors, it is important to recognize the benefits of physical activity on a regular basis to facilitate growth and effective outcomes and to preserve optimal health. These efforts are important contributors to the ability to achieve success not only in preserving health, but also in maintaining the appropriate weight for the age, gender, and body type of an individual. This will enable individuals to focus their efforts on creating physical activity routines that will support healthier outcomes and longer lives that are not complicated by chronic illness and other factors.

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control, 2013. “Physical activity and health.” 14 March 2013: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html

Fitness.gov, 2013. “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.” 14 March 2013: http://www.fitness.gov/be-active/physical-activity-guidelines-for-americans/

HealthyPeople.gov, 2013. “Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. 14 March 2013: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/LHI/nutrition.aspx