Being physically active is important across all ages and contributes to health, growth, and development in children and adolescents (WHO 2018). Low levels of physical activity are a major risk factor for chronic conditions. People who are not active enough have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia.
Regular physical activity improves mental and musculoskeletal health and reduces other risk factors such as overweight and obesity, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
Physical activity includes any movements that results in energy expenditure (WHO 2022). It can be taken as part of deliberate exercise or sport (such as swimming, running, going to the gym), incidental movement (such as walking to work or household chores) or work-related activities (such as lifting). Muscle-strengthening activities are activities that improve the strength, power, endurance and size of skeletal muscles, and also have specific health benefits such as reducing the risk of osteoporosis and sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and strength) in older Australians (Seguin and Nelson 2003). Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include lifting weights, body weight exercises (for example, push-ups), some types of yoga and Pilates.
Being physically inactive is different to being 'sedentary'. A sedentary behaviour is performed sitting or lying down (excluding sleeping) and requires little energy expenditure. Sedentary behaviours include sitting at a desk for work or sitting on the couch to watch TV. Long periods of sitting can offset the benefits of being physically active so it is important to reduce the time spent being sedentary or break up long periods of sitting (Department of Health and Aged Care 2021).
Australia has national guidelines that outline the minimum amount of physical activity required to achieve optimal health outcomes at all stages of life.
For further information, see Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians.
References
Department of Health and Aged Care (2021) Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, accessed 28 May 2024.
Seguin R and Nelson ME (2003) ‘The benefits of strength training for older adults’, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25(3):41–149, doi:10.1016/s0749-3797(03)00177-6.
WHO (World Health Organization) (2018) Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world, WHO, accessed 28 May 2024.
WHO (2022) Physical activity, WHO, accessed 28 May 2024.
