Health benefits of physical activity for adults and older adults
There is strong evidence that physical activity:
Lowers the risk of
- early death
- heart disease
- stroke
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- adverse blood lipid profi le
- metabolic syndrome
- colon and breast cancers
Helps
- prevent weight gain
- with weight loss when combined with diet
- improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness
- prevent falls
- reduce depression
- improve cognitive function in older adults
There is moderate to strong evidence that physical activity:
- Improves functional health in older adults
- Reduces abdominal obesity
- Helps maintain weight after weight loss
- Lowers the risk of hip fracture
- Increases bone density
- Improves sleep quality
- Lowers the risk of lung and endometrial cancers
