world health organization physical activity definition

#World health organization physical activity definition how to#
#World health organization physical activity definition download#

It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems. Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. Even a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood. Physical activity has a huge potential to enhance our well-being. What impact does physical activity have on well-being? However, whatever your age, being physically active can help you to lead a mentally healthier life and can improve your well-being. Of course, mental well-being does not mean being happy all the time, and it does not mean that you won’t experience negative or painful emotions, such as grief, loss, or failure, which are a part of normal life.

Having a sense of purpose and feeling valued.

Having control and freedom over our lives.

The feeling of connection to our community and surroundings.

The ability to deal with the ups and downs of life, such as coping with challenges and making the most of opportunities.

The sense of feeling good about ourselves and being able to function well individually or in relationships.

Mental well-being does not have a single universal definition, but it does encompass factors such as: For our purposes, we are focusing on mental well-being. The government defines well-being as ‘a positive physical, social and mental state’. Making exercise fun rather than something you have to do can motivate keeping it up. They can be lower-intensity activities and sports, such as snooker or darts. These activities can vary in intensity and include high-intensity activities, such as tennis, athletics, swimming, and keep-fit classes. This can be a fun and interactive way of getting exercise that doesn’t have to feel like exercising. We can play these as part of a team or even on our own. Structured and competitive activities that include anything from football or squash to cricket. Unstructured activity that is done for fun or enjoyment. ExerciseĪ purposeful activity carried out to improve health or fitness, such as jogging, cycling or lifting weights to increase strength. work), household chores, play, games, sports, or planned exercise in the context of daily, family, and community activities.Įveryday things such as walking to the bus stop, carrying bags or climbing stairs all count, and can add up to the 150 minutes of exercise a week recommended for the average adult. walking or cycling), occupational activity (i.e. Daily physical activityįor adults, physical activity can include recreational or leisure-time physical activity, transportation (e.g. Any activity that raises your heart rate makes you breathe faster, and makes you feel warmer counts towards your exercise!Īn easy way to look at types of physical activity is to put them into four separate categories. This can be either moderate intensity exercise, such as walking, hiking or riding a bike, or it can be more vigorous activities, such as running, swimming fast, aerobics or skipping with a rope. It is recommended that the average adult should do between 75 and 150 minutes of exercise a week. One of the great things about physical activity is that there are endless possibilities and there will be an activity to suit almost everyone! 'It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigour.' Marcus Tullius Cicero What is physical activity?Īt a very basic level, physical activity means any movement of your body that uses your muscles and expends energy. Find the one that works for you, and let’s all get physical! But as something that we do because we value its positive benefits to our well-being.Īs part of our work to promote better mental health, we have produced a pocket guide to show the positive effect physical activity can have on your mental well-being, including some tips and suggestions to help you get started.īeing active doesn’t just mean doing sports or going to the gym. We need to change how we view physical activity in the UK to not see it as something we ‘have to do’, ‘should do’ or ‘ought to do’ for our health.

#World health organization physical activity definition download#

You can read the guide below, download it as a PDF or buy printed copies in our online shop. There are many reasons why physical activity is good for your body – having a healthy heart and improving your joints and bones are just two, but did you know that physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and well-being?

#World health organization physical activity definition how to#

This guide provides you with tips on how to look after your mental health using exercise.