Participating regularly in physical activity has been shown to benefit…

Participating regularly in physical activity has been shown to benefit an individual's health and 1. Regular physical activity is important in reducing the risk of 2 diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, obesity, diabetes, and some 3 of cancer. The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, preferably every day of the week, to obtain health benefits. The national guidelines do not prescribe what kinds of physical activities may be most beneficial for improving health. Health-related campaigns 4 to focus on promoting activities such as walking, as this is likely to be of benefit across all age groups, and has minimal risk of injury. People participate in a wide range of sports and physical recreation, all of which may be important for general fitness. Participation in sports and physical recreation also provides important leisure and social 5 for many people.