P romoting H ealth and W ell - being Physical health and mental health are inseparable. Daily exercise is important for gaining, reducing, or maintaining weight. Physical activities are fundamental for energy balance, and weight control. These are important lifestyle related health determinants.
Low levels of physical activity pose the greatest public health problems in India and many countries around the world. Many lifestyle diseases today are because of lack of physical activities. Physical activity for a longer duration leads to deterioration of the essential body functions. A – per cent increased risk in all-cause mortality was seen in people with insufficient physical activity as compared to those who were involved in at least minutes of moderate- intensity physical activity each week.
(WHO, ) Physical activity leads to maintenance or improvement in the functioning of the organs. It provides essential stimuli for most organs of the human body, in order to develop and maintain their structures and functions of life. Physical activity is a key determinant of energy, balance, and weight control. The beneficial effects of physical activity go beyond controlling excess body weight.
It reduces the risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, blood pressure, and cancer. It improves the level of high density lipo protein cholesterol, improves the control of blood glucose in overweight people, even without significant weight loss. WHO recommendations about physical activities for children and adolescents aged – years •• Should do at least minutes from moderate to vigorous- intensity physical activity daily. •• Physical activities for more than minutes daily will provide additional health benefits.
•• Should include activities that strengthen music and bone, at least thrice in a week. For age group – years •• Should do at least minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity thoughout the week, or do at least minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity thoughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity. •• For additional health benefits, adults should increase their moderate-intensity physical activity to minutes per week, or equivalent. •• Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups on two