Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence
- PMID: 16534088
- PMCID: PMC1402378
- DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.051351
Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence
Abstract
The primary purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate the current literature and to provide further insight into the role physical inactivity plays in the development of chronic disease and premature death. We confirm that there is irrefutable evidence of the effectiveness of regular physical activity in the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis) and premature death. We also reveal that the current Health Canada physical activity guidelines are sufficient to elicit health benefits, especially in previously sedentary people. There appears to be a linear relation between physical activity and health status, such that a further increase in physical activity and fitness will lead to additional improvements in health status.
Figures
Comment in
-
Health benefits of physical activity.CMAJ. 2006 Sep 26;175(7):773-6; author reply 777. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1060095. CMAJ. 2006. PMID: 17001060 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Health benefits of physical activity.CMAJ. 2006 Sep 26;175(7):776-7; author reply 777. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1060139. CMAJ. 2006. PMID: 17001063 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Health benefits of physical activity.CMAJ. 2006 Sep 26;175(7):776; author reply 777. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1060093. CMAJ. 2006. PMID: 17001064 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
-
Health benefits of physical activity.CMAJ. 2006 Sep 26;175(7):776; author reply 777. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1060094. CMAJ. 2006. PMID: 17001065 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
Is physical activity or physical fitness more important in defining health benefits?Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001 Jun;33(6 Suppl):S379-99; discussion S419-20. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200106001-00007. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001. PMID: 11427763 Review.
-
[Importance of physical activity for prevention of chronic diseases].Ann Ig. 2008 Sep-Oct;20(5):485-93. Ann Ig. 2008. PMID: 19069254 Italian.
-
How much physical activity is good for health?Annu Rev Public Health. 1992;13:99-126. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.13.050192.000531. Annu Rev Public Health. 1992. PMID: 1599603 Review.
-
[Evidence-based guidelines for physical activity of adult Canadians].Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007;32 Suppl 2F:S17-74. doi: 10.1139/H07-168. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007. PMID: 19377540 Review. French.
-
Physical activity of adult Australians: epidemiological evidence and potential strategies for health gain.J Sci Med Sport. 1999 Mar;2(1):30-41. doi: 10.1016/s1440-2440(99)80182-0. J Sci Med Sport. 1999. PMID: 10331474 Review.
Cited by
-
Distribution and disparities of healthy lifestyles and noncommunicable diseases risk factors between men and women aged 20-59 years in Bangladesh: Evidence from a nationwide survey.Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2024 Aug 4;10(4):312-326. doi: 10.1002/cdt3.145. eCollection 2024 Dec. Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2024. PMID: 39429481 Free PMC article.
-
A Qualitative Exploration of Participants' Experiences in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Weight Reduction Through a Nurse-Led Intervention.Cureus. 2024 Sep 17;16(9):e69621. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69621. eCollection 2024 Sep. Cureus. 2024. PMID: 39429429 Free PMC article.
-
Perceived stress and life satisfaction: the mediating roles of sport commitment and mobile phone addiction.Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 19;14(1):24608. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76973-y. Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 39427103 Free PMC article.
-
Progress in physical activity research, policy, and surveillance in Canada: The global observatory for physical activity - GoPA!BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 17;24(1):2866. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20322-1. BMC Public Health. 2024. PMID: 39420310 Free PMC article.
-
A Respiratory Sensor-Based Study of the Relationship between Voluntary Breathing Patterns and Aerobic and Anerobic Exercise Capacity-An Exploratory Applied Study.Sensors (Basel). 2024 Sep 29;24(19):6310. doi: 10.3390/s24196310. Sensors (Basel). 2024. PMID: 39409351 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Bouchard C, Shephard RJ. Physical activity fitness and health: the model and key concepts. In: Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T, editors. Physical activity fitness and health: International proceedings and consensus statement. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics; 1994. p. 77-88.
-
- Blair SN, Brodney S. Effects of physical inactivity and obesity on morbidity and mortality: current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:S646-62. - PubMed
-
- American College of Sports Medicine. Position stand: Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998;30:992-1008. - PubMed
-
- McAuley E. Physical activity and psychosocial outcomes. In: Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T, editors. Physical activity, fitness and health: the consensus knowledge. Champaign (IL): Human Kinetics; 1994. p. 551-68.
-
- Taylor RS, Brown A, Ebrahim S, et al. Exercise-based rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Med 2004;116:682-92. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical