10.1: Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness
What is the difference between physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness?
Although often used interchangeably, the terms physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness have different meanings. In short, physical activity refers to any body movement, exercise is physical activity that is planned and structured to achieve physical fitness, and physical fitness refers to how well your heart, lungs, muscles, and joints respond to daily tasks. The detailed definitions [4] for each are:
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Physical activity
is any form of bodily movement performed by skeletal muscles that result in an increase in energy expenditure.
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Examples of physical activity:
- Shopping
- Cleaning your house
- Gardening
- Washing your car
- Dancing
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Examples of physical activity:
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Exercise
is a form of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and performed with the goal of improving health or fitness. Exercise is purposeful to improve or maintain of one or more components of physical fitness. All exercise is physical activity, but not all physical activity is exercise.
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Example of exercise:
- Jog for 30 minutes
- Swim 1 mile
- Attend an aerobics class
- Lift weights
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Example of exercise:
- Physical fitness is a persons ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits and respond to emergencies. A persons physical fitness is developed by incorporating an exercise routine that specifically develops the components of physical fitness.
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The components of physical fitness are categorized into two categories:
- Health-related components of physical fitness: Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body composition.
- Skill-related components of physical fitness: Balance, agility, speed, power, coordination, and reaction time.
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The components of physical fitness are categorized into two categories:
Reflection: Your Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness
Take a moment to reflect on your physical fitness, physical activity, and exercise.
- How would you rate your level of physical fitness? Are you able to carry out daily tasks with vigor and without fatigue? Do you have a lot of energy?
- How does your level of physical activity impact your physical fitness level? Are you active throughout the day?
- What exercise do you purposefully perform that impacts your level of physical fitness? Do you follow an exercise program? Do you include regular exercise that helps your heart and lungs, and helps you become stronger?