Physical Activity Challenge: Article 2

With the physical activity challenge in full swing, it’s important to recognize the benefits of activity for your health. Recognizing the benefits of physical activity serve as good motivation for staying active. Physical activity has many benefits to not only your physical health, but also your mental health. Even brief bouts of activity offer benefits to your health. Some activity is better than none! The idea is to incorporate regular activity into your daily life in order to improve your overall health and prevent negative health outcomes.

Research shows that physical activity provides many health benefits. With a total of at least 150 minutes of activity per week, your risk of developing chronic diseases is reduced, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancer. In addition, if you already have a chronic disease, physical activity can slow or delay its progression.

Another benefit of physical activity that most of us are aware of is its contribution to weight loss. Physical activity helps maintain a stable weight over time and can reduce the risk of weight gain. If you are trying to lose weight, it can contribute to weight loss and it prevents weight regain following weight loss.

Improved sleep is another great benefit of staying active! Adults who are more physically active sleep better. The more physically active you are, the less time it takes you to fall asleep. The quality of your sleep improves as well, with less awakenings and deeper sleep. As a result, you will have less daytime sleepiness!

In addition to the benefits for your physical health, your mental health benefits as well. Physical activity reduces feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms. It also reduces the risk of developing depression and can improve the symptoms of depression. Physical activity actually stimulates your brain to release chemicals that leave you feeling happier, relaxed, and less anxious!

These are just a few, as the benefits from physical activity are vast. It all boils down to becoming happier and healthier. Want to be a happier, healthier you? Start incorporating physical activity into your daily life!

Don’t forget! Kidder County District Health Unit is promoting a county-wide physical activity challenge for all ages running from July 1st through August 31st. Anyone who charts at least 30 days of at least 30 minutes of physical activity during this timeframe is eligible for a prize! Individuals can pick up calendars to chart activity for the months of July and August at KCDHU, Mad Moves, Kidder County Swimming Pool, Kidder County Library, any Senior Center in Kidder County, or the Steele Pharmacy. Turn in your calendars no later than September 3rd to be entered for prize drawings!

Questions? We would love to hear from you! Call Kidder County District Health Unit at 701-475-2582.