Why health fitness matters

Exercise is an important part of a lifetime of good health! Exercising is also fun and is something you can do with friends. It also can help you:

• Feel less stressed
• Boost your self-esteem
• Feel more ready to learn in school
• Keep a healthy weight
• Build and keep healthy bones, muscles, and joints

There are many ways it can help you, both today and in the future.

Short-term, long-term benefits

Short-term benefits of exercise are the body's responses right after starting. The long-term benefits are improvements that occur over weeks, months, and years from regular exercising or training.

Some short-term benefits include:

* Helps you feel good about yourself
* Relaxes and refreshes your body
* Gives you a break from daily routines and worries

Some long-term benefits include:

* Lowers high blood pressure
* Helps you lose weight and gain strength the healthy way by lowering body fat and increasing muscle
* Lowers risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis (bone loss)

Most people can benefit from exercise. In fact, making physical activity a regular part of your life early on is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. If you have an injury or think there is a health reason why you may not be able to exercise safely, talk with your doctor before starting a new exercise program or sport. You should also talk with a doctor first if you have:



* Asthma
* High blood pressure
* Heart trouble
* Dizzy spells
* Extreme breathlessness after physical activity
* Arthritis or bone problems
* Severe muscle, ligament, or tendon problems
* Fatigue or feel tired most of the time

Get moving!



Group of friends in a swimming poolThe more time you spend in front of the television or playing video games, the less time you have to be active. Not being active is called sedentary (say: sed-un-tair-ee). Leading a sedentary lifestyle can cause weight gain and even obesity (dangerously high weight), which can lead to type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. These three health issues can hurt your heart and make it easier for you to get certain diseases. Make physical activity a regular part of your life. It can help you protect your health!