The document discusses the benefits of physical activity. It identifies five lifestyle factors for health and wellbeing: physical activity, healthy diet, not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol, and avoiding excessive stress. It then outlines the physiological, psychological, social, and economic benefits of regular physical activity, such as improving mood and sleep, reducing stress and anxiety, encouraging social connections, and reducing health costs and absenteeism.

1. Benefits of physical activity
Steve Saffhill
steve.saffhill@stamford.ac.uk

2. Summary
• Five lifestyle factors
• Benefits of physical activity

3. What are the five lifestyle factors for
maintaining health and wellbeing?
• Physical activity
• Healthy diet
• Not smoking
• Avoiding excessive alcohol intake
• Avoiding excessive stress.

4. Benefits of physical activity
Physical Social
Psychological Economic/environmental

5. Physiological benefits of physical activity
Strengthen bones
Improve body
shape and fat
Improve posture
Reduce risk of
chronic disease
Maintain
flexibility and
suppleness
Improve
cardiorespiratory
fitness
Boost vitality and
energy levels
Boost immune
system
Improve sleep

6. Psychological benefits of physical activity
Relieve stress
Reduce
anxiety
Reduce
depression
Improve
mood
Improve self-esteem
and
body image
Improve
concentration

7. Social benefits of physical activity
Encourages
connectedness
Improves
social skills
Reduces
isolation
Enhances self
esteem and
confidence

8. Economic benefits of physical activity
Reduces
health costs
Creates
employment
Supports
local business
Reduces
absenteeism
Enhances
productivity