Physical Activity for Health and Wellbeing
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- living a longer, healthier life
- increased mobility and independence
- lower risk of disease and disability
- stronger bones
- If your muscles are strong, everyday activities like lifting and walking up stairs are easier
- increasing your stability and balance, which reduces the risk of falls
Less obvious are the mental health benefits, which include:
- higher confidence
- better moods
- longer and more focused concentration
- better memory
- emotional wellbeing and decreases in stress levels
Getting active with others also has a range of social benefits, including:
- increased social networks
- reductions in isolation and loneliness
- greater personal safety
Being physically active can even have environmental benefits, where making the choice of walking or cycling instead of driving can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutions and fuel costs.
If you are physically inactive, you are at greater risk of:
- cardiovascular disease
- colon and breast cancer
- type II diabetes
- osteoporosis
Physical inactivity combined with a diet high in sugars and saturated fat can lead to an increased risk of being overweight and obesity.
Being overweight and obese increases your chances of further health challenges later in life, and increases the financial cost of healthcare.
Costs to the individual extend to the economy, especially in regards to productivity, since people who are unhealthy have higher occurrences of absenteeism from work due to physical and mental illness.
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Glossary
Physical Activity
Any sustained bodily movement that expends energy eg: walking, gardening, playing sport, work related activity etc
Physical Inactivity
Term used to describe a lifestyle where one does little or no physical activities
Cardiovascular Disease
Term used to describe heart, stroke and blood vessels diseases. Because it is one of the Australia's most significant health problems, it is one of the highest financial burdens in the country because of ill health, disability and health system costs. It is the leading cause of death in Australia.
Type II Diabetes
Also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. Type II diabetes is caused by the body's ineffective use of insulin, caused in many causes by lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, insufficient physical activity, and the "apple" body shape, where weight is carried around the waist. Type II diabetes is often undiagnosed because it does not always have visible or felt symptoms.
Osteoporosis
A disorder in the skeleton where bone strength is weakened, and there is an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength is weakened when bones lose minerals, such as calcium, more quickly than the body can replace them.
Overweight and Obesity
Two terms to describe ranges of weight which are higher than what is generally considered as healthy for a given height. For an adult over 18, a body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is considered obese
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A standard for classifying overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is measured by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in metres
Mental Illness
A recognisable set of symptoms related to mood and though processes, or behaviours that may cause distress to self or others or interfere with regular functions. Some examples of mental illness include depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia
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