Physical Activity
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical activity refers to all movement including during leisure time, for transport to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work. Both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity improve health.
Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, strength training, sports, active recreation, and play, and can be done at any level of skill.
Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers. It also helps prevent hypertension, maintain healthy body weight, and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being.
According to the Centre for Disease control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities.
Adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity gain some health benefits. Only a few lifestyle choices have as large of an impact on your health as physical activity.
Everyone can experience the health benefits of physical activity – age, abilities, ethnicity, shape, or size do not matter.
Learn More
You can learn more and get additional tips from these sites:
- 11 ways to stay active in winter, from Heart and Stroke.
- Free winter activities, from City of Winnipeg.
- Winnipeg in motion has tips to be more active for children, adults and older Manitobans.
- CancerCare Manitoba has information about moving more, including how cancer can be prevented through more physical activity, suggestions for what to do, and local resources throughout Manitoba to help.
- The Cancer Society offers tips on sitting less and why it cuts your risk for cancer.
- Fitness Blender offers a series of free online workouts and other resources.
- Children and Nature Network and The Green Hour have ideas about natural play for children of all ages, and information about the many health benefits.
- The Canadian Physician Activity Guidelines offers more information and tips on getting active.
- Doctors Manitoba | Moving more (gettinghealthy.ca)
- CDC infographic on the Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Adults
- A 3-minute video on Being Active from the CDC