Physical Fitness

Many people believe driving to be the better way of getting around. While this may be true at times, quite often it is not. What is true, however, is the impact of the automobile has in creating more sedentary habits in Canadians.

Did you know that nearly 2/3 of Canadians do not get the recommended amount of daily physical activity that they need?

Physical activity reduces your:

• Risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes
• Risk of colon, breast and lung cancer
• Stress, anxiety and insomnia
• Back problems
• High blood pressure
• Risk of osteoporosis, and
• Signs of aging

It only takes an accumulation of 30 minutes of moderate daily activity to achieve these benefits! Consider a cycle to work, a brisk walk to the grocery store or a scooter-ride to the gym!

Beyond physical benefits, Health Canada reports that:

• Regular physical activity and higher levels of fitness allow daily tasks to be accomplished with greater ease and comfort and with less fatigue.
• Leisure-time physical activity provides balance to the demands of family time and work.
• Active individuals typically report improvement in energy levels, job attitude, and overall morale.

Health Canada states that physical activity is essential to healthy growth and development in children. Regular activity will develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and bone density.

Active individuals are less vulnerable to the risk factors associated with chronic illness and delays those illnesses until much further on into adulthood. Further studies indicate that youth involved in regular physical activity are less likely to use tobacco or alcohol.

For seniors, active modes of transportation provide weight-bearing activity so critical to maintaining bone density. A regular fitness schedule promotes strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, and importantly can reduce the impact and risk of falls. Overall, physical activity helps prolong good health and independence.

Health Canada states that regular activity can have an empowering effect on those with disabilities by allowing individuals to set their own standards, and reap the social, emotional, spiritual and physical benefits of choosing their own activities. Active living helps make coping with the everyday challenges of life easier, and can even prevent relapses of certain disabilities. It can also increase the energy a person has to deal with the physical and mental stresses of a disability.

From a health perspective, active living increases mobility, improves posture, and reduces aches and pains that can accompany long periods of sitting. Better circulation reduces the possibility of blood-pooling and swelling in the legs. And maintenance of a healthy weight helps those who use aids to get around more easily.

Respiratory Health

Participation in active and efficient modes of transportation benefits us beyond physical fitness. It provides our bodies with the fresh, clean air required for optimum lung health. Walking, cycling, busing and carpooling helps to improve air quality, by reducing single-occupancy vehicle use.

• 20% or Canadians now have some form of respiratory ailment. Transportation is the main cause of air pollution. By contributing further to smog, poor air quality and climate change (global warming) we will only worsen our lung health.
• Annually, Health Canada estimates that 5,000 Canadians die premature deaths (the Ontario Medical Association estimates 2,000 of these are in Ontario , with approximately 27 of these in the Peterborough area) due to poor air quality.

By inserting regular walking, biking, carpooling and busing habits into our lives can go a long way towards maintaining a healthy body.

Links

• Peterborough County-City Health Unit -€“ Physical Activity
• Health Canada 's Physical Activity Guide
• Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute