Why Is a Lifetime of Fitness Important?

Thirty minutes a day, five days a week -- that's the commitment every credible fitness or health organization recommends as the minimum amount of exercise you should perform in a week to maintain your health. But what many people do not realize is that maintaining fitness is a commitment for life, a choice that can keep you happy, healthy and reduce health costs.

  1. Benefits of Fitness

    • Exercise is crucial for overall health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports exercise helps to control weight, strengthens muscles and bones, increases energy, prevents diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, and improves mental health. All of these benefits taken together equal the best benefit of them all: a longer life.

    Kids and Fitness

    • As with most habits, starting a fitness regimen at a young age establishes patterns into adulthood. Simultaneously, being healthy as a child helps to improve health outcomes as they progress through life. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children between the ages of 6 and 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Physical activity helps children to develop in a healthy manner as it allows for bone and muscle development, as well as a healthy heart. Moreover, the endorphins created by physical activity assist in brain development and make for happier children. The CDC states that physical activity may even improve academic achievement and behavior in children.

    Young Adults and Fitness

    • Fitness is as important for young adults as with any other age group. But it is during this time in life when the the amount of physical activity performed begins to diminish. Consequently, young adults place themselves at risk from the dangers of inactivity. Low levels of physical activity may increase the chance of young adults developing high blood pressure. A study published in the journal Hypertension found that low levels of physical therapy indicated the development of high blood pressure over 20 years in young adults 18 to 30.

    Midlife Adults and Fitness

    • According to the American Heart Association, 65 percent of adults in the United States are obese. This high number reflects the failure to incorporate fitness into their lifestyle and may be an accumulation of low physical activity and poor diet earlier in life. As a result, adults with low levels of physical activity end up with high health care costs compared with their active counterparts. Research conducted by the American Heart Association found that physically fit midlife adults save as much as $2,000 per year in health costs.

    Older Adults and Fitness

    • Older adults can greatly benefit from exercise. The CDC advises it is the most important activity older adults can do for their health. Regular exercise maintains many of the same health protective factors as in the other age groups. Additionally, it can help older adults maintain their independence through muscle strength, improved balance and coordination. Physical activity may seem arduous for this age group, but even as little as 10 minutes of exercise at a time can help.