Physical Exercise
Declaring that physical exercise is one of the most powerful medicines to help
improve our quality of life is not an exaggeration. The World Health
Organization expressed the same view in its 2002 World Health Report,
emphasizing that the damage produced by lack of physical activity was equal to
the strong probability of serious illness such as heart disease and even some
kinds of cancer. Those who have embraced an active lifestyle
for years are familiar with the sort of physical and psychological benefits that
come from exercise. Nevertheless a lot of people would never think of physical
activity as a way of feeling better, simply because they don’t think they are in
need of it, or because they are lazy or maintain that they haven’t got enough
time. There are many positive effects that result from physical
exercise and they are not only concerned with the physical aspects but also
psychological and social ones. Beginning with the physical
benefits, physical activity improves the life of the heart, burns off fat,
lowers high blood pressure, makes tissues more resistant, and increases muscle
flexibility and joint mobility. On a psychological level,
physical activity helps reduce anxiety and stress by causing tension to
disappear and by encouraging us to have a better sense of ourselves through
listening to our bodies during movement. Lastly, seeing
ourselves in better health is advantageous socially. The sense of satisfaction
thus obtained will result in an increase of self-respect and self-confidence in
terms of our ability to interact with others. The benefits
linked to exercise have also not gone unnoticed in the business world, with more
and more companies setting up gyms on-site. Employees’ improved health
translates into better performance and reduced costs as well as an increase in
people’s satisfaction in the work place. Physical activity is recommended for
all age groups, including children. It is an important growth factor in a
child’s education. And for the elderly There is no doubt that
regular physical activity allows greater efficiency in daily life as well as
creating more basic independence day by day, including the possibility of
keeping in touch with others and not feeling isolated. Many people do not engage in physical exercise mainly because ______.
A. they are not aware of its benefits
B. they don’t have the facilities
C. they don’t think they need it
D. they are physically unfit for it