by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: May 19, 2009

Exercise involves doing any kind of activity which gets your body moving and increases your heart rate. Some people choose to incorporate low-impact exercise such as walking into their daily routine so it feels less like they are doing exercise; others prefer to set aside some time during the day to get their heart pumping. It doesn't matter how people get their fix of exercise so long as they do some form of activity which elevates their heart rate and gets them expending some energy. At the moment it is clear that not enough people are exercising enough, which is why so many are succumbing to the effects of obesity.

For people who want to lead long, healthy lives, exercise has to be regarded as an essential component of their everyday routine. It is currently recommended that adults should, at the very minimum, participate in moderate-intensity physical activity for 30 minutes, five days a week. It doesn't even have to happen in one go; it is perfectly acceptable for people to break up their 30 minutes into smaller chunks. Everybody has to start somewhere, no matter what their fitness levels are, and simply taking small steps to incorporate more activity into your life can have significant benefits.

Exercising regularly can help individuals to manage their weight more effectively than people who do not participate in any kind of activity. Weight control depends on getting the right balance between the amount of calories you consume and the amount you expend. Obviously, the more exercise a person does the more room for manoeuvre they will have in terms of the calories they can consume. Exercise can help your body to burn calories more efficiently, particularly as you build-up muscle mass, since your resting metabolic rate increases. When you exercise your heart is working hard to get oxygenated blood to all your muscles and major organs, and it takes more energy to keep everything going when you exercise than when you are resting. Exercise is therefore an essential part of weight management.

Exercise gives your whole body a work out which can boost your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness, and improving your overall physical well-being. There is less risk of developing heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes for those who exercise regularly. You are also less likely to suffer from depression and be better able to cope with stressful situations and anxiety if you exercise.

It is clear, therefore, that there is not just one great reason for you to exercise, but many, particularly concerning the benefits for your mental and physical health, as well as your weight.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.