Definition
Physical activity refers to movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles resulting in greater caloric expenditure than at rest. It includes exercise and general non-exercise activity.
Explanation
- Any bodily movement substantially raising heart rate and burning calories beyond resting qualifies as physical activity. This ranges from sports to household chores.
- Guidelines recommend adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity plus 2 days of resistance training weekly.
- Cardio, strength training and general daily non-exercise activity all contribute to overall physical activity levels and metabolic health.
- Use fitness trackers or apps to monitor step count, heart rate and estimated calories burned through activity.
Examples
- A 30 minute jog or CrossFit class constituting structured exercise.
- Gardening, cleaning, walking the dog or taking stairs as non-exercise activity.
Related Terms
- Sedentary behavior, exercise, NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)
Common Questions
- Does all activity count toward the 150 weekly minute minimum? Any aerobic activity of sufficient intensity and duration counts.
- What if I exceed the guidelines? Excellent, the more physical activity, the better for health and fitness.
Do Not Confuse With
- Exercise – Structured, purposeful training sessions to improve fitness.
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