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Health,
Fitness and Fun
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because
we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
Regular physical activity, fitness, and exercise are critically important for our health and well being. Research has shown that virtually all individuals can benefit from regular physical activity, whether they participate in vigorous exercise, or some type of moderate, recreational physical activity. Even among very old adults, mobility and functioning can be improved through physical activity.
Millions of Americans suffer from chronic illnesses that can be prevented or improved through regular physical activity. For example, physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of developing or dying from heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. On average, people who are physically active outlive those who are not.
Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity, most adults and many children lead sedentary lifestyles, and are not active enough to achieve these health benefits.
In addition, there is a close relationship between mental and physical health across all life stages. A healthy mind effects physical well-being at any age, though mental health is often considered second to, and independent from physical health.
Dr Jose Miguel Caldas de Almeida, MD, Chief of the Unit of Mental Health and Specialized Projects, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has said that health is a complete state of well-being, and that, "...there is no health without mental health." Other authorities agree, adding that the opposite is true as well - there is no physical health without mental wellness. We are not a bunch of loosely connected parts. We are a package, and everything about us, inside us, and around us, is interconnected. We have to take care of all of it.
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ELSEWARES
Independent Art & Design
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