South Health District

It is easy for a person to say, “I’m not overweight so I don’t need to work out,” but that isn’t the case.

It’s no secret that working out is good for weight-loss and muscle gain, however even if you aren’t interested in losing weight or building muscle the benefits of exercise aren’t limited to what’s on the outside.

There are numerous studies explaining the relationship between physical activity and wellness.

According to the CDC, increasing physical activity has been proven to reduce feelings of anxiety, lower your risk of depression and reduce blood pressure. It can also improve sleep, bone health and overall physical function.

Increasing your physical activity can also help prevent disease.  

A 2012 study found that working out can decrease your risk of diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and hypertension. It can lower your risk of all-cause mortality.

With the improvements not being limited to your outside it is important to remember exercise is crucial for bodies of all shapes, sizes and ages.

According to the CDC, “The health benefits of physical activity are seen in children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older adults, women and men, people of different races and ethnicities, and people with chronic conditions or disabilities. The health benefits of physical activity are generally independent of body weight. Adults of all sizes and shapes gain health and fitness benefits by being habitually physically active.”

According to a 2017 study from the CDC, 31 percent of Georgians did not participate in any physical activity outside of their regular job.

It’s an easy trap to fall into. Once we get home from work no one wants to then go run on a treadmill or on a track. A lot of adults have children to care for, dinners to cook and chores to complete.  

Passiveness regarding your physical well-being can’t be an option.

Whether it is walking around your neighborhood with your children, lifting weights before you go to work in the morning, stretching during work or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator, increasing (or beginning) an exercise routine is a crucial step towards a healthier life both now and in the future.

So now that you understand how working out can help you, where do you begin?

The CDC recommends adults engage in at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week. They also recommend engaging in muscle-strengthening activities at least twice each week.

“Making small changes every day to increase your physical activity can improve your life forever,” said Dr. William Grow, District Health Director. “Take the stairs. Choose the parking spot that is farther away. Walk to a person’s office instead of sending an email. The choices you make today will impact your life both immediately and long term.”

You got this!