Every day through different media sources people hear about the importance of regular exercise. Although many people have a decent idea why physical exercise is necessary, there are still some individuals who do not understand the depth of benefits that come from providing the body with a good workout. Because this is so vital, we wanted to take the opportunity to address the overall importance, as well as benefits that come from exercise.
Although physical exercise is important to people throughout the world, it is especially critical to those living in the United States. Following are some of the key reasons for this, along with associated benefits.
Obesity Epidemic
Since the 1980s, the level of obesity in America for adults has more than doubled. This means percentage wise, numbers have increased from 15% of the population being affected to 30%. Even worse, the level of obesity for children and teenagers has more than tripled. Compared to other countries, the obesity epidemic in the United States is the worst. While genetics, health issues, and medication account for a small number of cases, most often, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are the causes.
Along with obesity leading to problems such as depression and lack of self-confidence, more critically it causes a number of serious health risks. While there are others, the health problems listed below are among the most prevalent.
o Heart Disease and Stroke
o High Blood Pressure
o Diabetes
o Osteoarthritis
o Gout
o Cancer
o Gallbladder Disease and Gallstones
o Respiratory Disorders such as Sleep Apnea, Asthma, and More
To put this into perspective, a person who is 40% overweight from what is deemed to be a healthy weight range based on age and height would be 50% more apt to die prematurely than someone within a healthy weight range. The thing to understand is that if these people were to adopt healthy eating habits and get an adequate level of physical exercise, obesity would be prevented, which in turn would alleviate serious health risks.
Financial Loss
In correlation to health issues caused by poor diet and a lack of physical exercise is the issue of financial loss. For instance, the amount of money being spent for medical care, as well as lost wages specific to obesity has reached well over $200 billion annually. Then, when you consider that in some cases financial support comes from government programs such as Medicare, this means that healthy and active people actually pay the cost of caring for people who live with obesity through taxes.
You would also need to consider the cost of additional government and non-government programs that have been developed and continue to be developed to combat this problem. Obviously, these programs are not free, which again, means the money has to come from increased taxes. Although we applaud the efforts being made to bring levels of obesity down and get people excited about physical exercise, the consequences affect everyone when proper diet and exercise are not a part of daily life.
Positive Outlook
Although the primary reason activity is so crucial has to do to improved physical health, there is another aspect associated, which would be improved mental health. Whether we like it or not, the truth is that people who are overweight, especially school age children and teenagers, struggle with self-esteem. Often, these children feel isolated, embarrassed, and many are bullied.
However, when kids are provided with the right foods and introduced to weight exercises, weight problems are prevented. As a result, these kids have the opportunity to feel as if they fit into society better, they make friends easier, and they no longer feel as if they have been singled out as being “abnormal”. It has been proven that children who get regular exercise seldom struggle with weight problems, making them better grounded and more confident.
Again, while this is wrong, studies show that overweight adults are punished in the workplace. Often, these people are passed over for other candidates when interviewing for a job even if they are more qualified and sometimes, they are skipped over for promotions or positions of leadership. This shows that being overweight has a direct impact on a person’s ability to secure employment but also move up the corporate ladder.
Motivation
It has also been shown that people involved with some type of physical exercise are more motivated than those who do not exercise. Whether overweight or not, working the body actually balances hormones and chemicals in the body. As a result, people generally feel more optimistic and happy. Because of this, these individuals typically have a gun-ho attitude in life, eager to tackle any challenge thrown their way. This positive attitude is reflected in productivity levels at work, in achievements at school, performances in sports, and so on.
Social Benefits
The last benefit connected to physical exercise is the ability to be in a social setting that creates a unique chance for people to make friends, associate with people who share the same interests, and just to get out and mingle. In other words, being able to go to a gym, participate in a sport, or get involved with some other situation involving physical exercise would be beneficial from a social perspective.