Research Layer -Key Benefits of Physical Activity

1. Key benefits of regular physical activity include reducing the risk of developing or dying from several conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and helping to control weight and promote psychological well being. Pitts, Edward H., The Surgeon General's Call to Action, Fitness Management, Vol. 12, No. 9, 36-38, August 1996
   
   
2. Four large population studies in the US and Canada have shown that general well-being is somewhat greater, and depression is much less frequent, in those who take much exercise relative to those who take little or no exercise. Shephard, Roy J., Exercise and Relaxation in Health Promotion, Sports Medicine,Vol. 23, No. 4, 211-216, April 1997
   
   
3. As much as 50% of mortality from the ten leading causes of death in the United States can be traced to life-style". Ryan, Allan J., A Critical Stage in Employee Fitness, The Physician and Sportsmedicine, Vol. 11, No. 1, 55, January 1983
   
   
4. Being more physically fit will have one or more of the following benefits to an individual's health:

   - prevention of obesity
   - improved quality of weight loss with physical activity than with diet alone
   - reduction in chronic fatigue
   - increased joint flexibility
   - greater stamina, strength, endurance and co-ordination
   - less strain and tension
   - an increase in one's "joie de vivre"
   - improved work performance
   Position Paper on Physical Fitness, Ontario Ministry of Health, PP 74-004-06, January 1975
   

5. The disease prevention benefits of exercise have been widely acknowledged. Participation in a program of regular exercise plays a role in preventing coronary heart disease, reduces the risk of CHD mortality and fatal reinfarctions, reduces blood pressure in mild hypertensives, decreases obesity, smoking and reported illness, is associated with lower risk for some reproductive cancers in women and colon cancers in men, and plays a role in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Unfortunately, however, only approximately 20% of the normal population exercises with sufficient regularity to achieve optimal health benefits. Klonoff, Elizabeth A., Predicting Exercise Adherence in Women: The Role of Psychological and Physiological Factors, Preventive Medicine, 23, 257-262, 1994
   
   
6. Regular exercise can help prevent and treat coronary heart disease, osteoporosis,diabetes, hypertension, and depression (Harris and Associates Inc. 1989). Marcus, Bess H., The Stages and Progress of Exercise Adoption and Maintenance in a Worksite Sample, Health Psychology, 11(6), 386-395, 1992
   
   
7. The physical and psychological benefits of aerobic exercise are well established. Aerobic exercise has been shown to raise the level of protective high density lipoprotein, to improve physical fitness, and to reduce blood pressure among hypertensives. Exercise also seems to have positive psychological effects, which have been partially attributed to biochemical changes such as increased levels of endorphins and norepinephrine. Neale, Anne V., The Use of Behavioral Contracting to Increase Exercise Activity, American Journal of Health Promotion, 4(6), 441-447, July/August 1990
   
   
8. The death rate and occurrence of disability were only about one-half as great among persons with good health practices (sleep 7 to 8 hours daily, eat breakfast almost every day, never or rarely eating between meals, currently being at or near prescribed height adjusted weight, regular physical activity, never smoking cigarettes, moderate or no use of alcohol), as among those with poor health practices. Those with an intermediate (5 of the above health practices) level of health practices experienced about two-thirds the relative risks of those with poor health practices. Donaldson, Stewart I., The Seven Health Practices, Well-Being, and Performance at Work: Evidence for the Value of Reaching Small and Underserved Worksites, Preventive Medicine, 24, 270-277, 1995
   
   
9. Proper diet, physical activity and avoidance of tobacco all measurably improve health. Additionally, there is a synergistic effect when these healthy behaviours are combined.Chenoweth, David, Worksite Health Promotion Bringing Companies Positive Economic Impact, Occupational Health & Safety, Vol. 62, No. 9, 34, September 1993
   
   
10. There is promising evidence that strength training and other forms of exercise in older adults preserve the ability to maintain independent living status and reduce the risk of falling. Physical activity appears to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve mood. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM

The Risks of Physical Inactivity

General

1. Habitual inactivity is thought to contribute to hypertension, chronic fatigue and resulting physical inefficiency, premature ageing, the poor musculature and lack of flexibility which are the major causes of lower back pain and injury, mental tension, coronary heart disease and obesity. Employee Fitness: Corporate Philosophy for the 1980s, Athletic Purchasing and Facilities, 12-14, July 1980
   
   
2. Physical inactivity is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. Lack of physical activity also is recognized as a risk factor for a variety of other chronic diseases, including hypertension, noninsulin-dependent diabetes, colon cancer and osteoporosis. Brownson, Ross C., Support for Policy Interventions to Increase Physical Activity in Rural Missouri, American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol. 4, 263-266, March/April 1998
   
   
3. The reported health benefits of a more active lifestyle include diminished incidence of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, more favorable blood lipid profiles, lesser body weight and abdominal fat distribution, reduced blood pressure, decreased risk of osteoporosis, enhanced glucose disposal and improved psychosocial function. Stay in Motion: The Role of Exercise Within Health Promotion, AWHP's Worksite Health, 2(4), 8-12, Fall 1995
   
   
4. The recently published (1998) Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health indicates that lack of physical activity is causally related to negative health outcomes including Type Two diabetes, heart disease (cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke), hypertension, and plasma lipid/lipoprotein profiles. Pronk, Nicolaas P., The Association Between Physical Fitness and Diagnosed Chronic Disease in Health Maintenance Organization Members, American Journal of Health Promotion, 125, 300-306, May/June 1998

Cardiovascular Disease

1. Physical inactivity is firmly established as an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Dunn, Andrea L., Reduction in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: 6-Month Results from Project Active, Preventive Medicine, Vol. 26, No. 6, 883-892, November/December 1997
   
   
2. Physically active individuals have half the risk of coronary heart disease compared to their sedentary counterparts. Marcus, Bess H., Evaluation of Motivationally Tailored vs. Standard Self-help Physical Activity Interventions at the Workplace, American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol. 12, No. 4, 246-253, March 1998
   
   
3. Inactivity has become one of the major contributors to cardiovascular disease. In epidemiological studies an association has been found between physical inactivity, coronary heart disease and greater frequency of sudden death. Rhodes, Edward C., Physiological and Attitudinal Changes in Those Involved in an Employee Fitness Program, Canadian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 71, 331-336, September/October 1980
   
   
4. People who exercise are 35 to 50% less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who are inactive. Pelletier, Kenneth, A Review and Analysis of the Health and Cost-Effective Outcome Studies of Comprehensive Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs at the Worksite: 1991-1993 Update, American Journal of Health Promotion, 8(1), 50-62, September/October 1993
   
   
5. The Framingham study showed that the rate of coronary disease for men with sedentary lifestyles was about three times higher than for active men. Brink, Stephen D. Health Risks and Behavior: The Impact on Medical Costs. Milliman & Robertson, Inc. and Control Data, 1987
   
   
6. Sedentary lifestyles and low levels of physical fitness are associated with higher rates of hypertension, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Barlow, Carolyn E., Practical Advice on Fitness and Mortality: A New Approach to Exercise Prescription, American Journal of Health Promotion, 4(5), 391-395, May/June 1990
   
   
7. The Framingham Study found that those who are active, as assessed by the 24-hour physical activity index, lived longer and suffered less cardiovascular mortality. Overall, cardiovascular and coronary heart disease mortality improved with increasing levels of physical activity at all ages including the elderly. Kannel, William B., Physical Activity and Physical Demand on the Job and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Death: The Framingham Study, American Heart Journal, Vol. 112, 820-825, 1986
   
   
8. Physically active people are about half as likely as non-exercisers to die of coronary heart disease. Page for Patients, Preventive Medicine 25, 234-235, 1996
   
   
9. In addition, longitudinal studies of men with coronary artery disease have shown that endurance training, together with a cholesterol-lowering diet and interventions for other CVD risk factors, can help prevent the progression or reduce the severity of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Hypertension

1. In a later follow-up of the same cohort, using information on physical activity during mid-life, vigorous sports were associated with a 19-30% reduction in risk of developing hypertension over the 14 year period. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Cholesterol

1. Aerobic fitness was determined to be strongly and inversely linked to total serum cholesterol. Tucker, Larry A., The Relation Between Aerobic Fitness and Serum Cholesterol Levels in a Large Employed Population, American Journal of Health Promotion, 6(1), 17-23, September/October 1991
   
   
2. Studies have found that even a single episode of physical activity can result in an improved blood lipid profile that persists for several days. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Cancer

1. Studies have reported that sedentary individuals are at an increased risk of death from cancers of the colon and breast. Oman, Roy F., Predicting the Adoption and Maintenance of Exercise Participation Using Self-efficacy and Previous Exercise Participation Rates, American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol.12, No. 3, 154-161, January/February 1998
   
   
2. If individuals add 30 minutes or more of physical activity to their daily regimen, 15% of all new colon cancer cases could be prevented-that's approximately 14,250 cases per year, according to HHCP's report, which included a specific focus on the link between physical activity and colon cancer. Worksite Fitness Programs Identified as Important Step in Cancer Prevention, Wellness Program Management Advisor, 8-9
   
   
3. Together, the research on occupational and leisure-time or total physical activity strongly suggests that physical activity has a protective effect against the risk of developing colon cancer. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Musculoskeletal

1. The most predominant lost-time injuries for U.S. firefighters are strains and sprains. Similarly in Ontario 27% lost time injuries to firemen were due to strain and sprains (WCB 1976) while the most frequent cause of injury was reported to be over-exertion. This fact suggests that there is a need to improve physical fitness and thus work capacity. Doelen, J. V., Fitness and Occupational Injuries: A Review, Ontario Ministry of Labour, November 1979
   
   
2. It has been estimated that up to 70% of low back pain is due to poor muscle tone and flexibility of the lower back muscles and poor abdominal muscle tone. Physical Fitness, We support it, North American Rockwell, Phillips Petroleum Company
   
   
3. Seven percent of those in the low-fitness category subsequently experienced non-vehicular back injuries; 3% of those in the middle category had back injuries. Cady, Lee D., Program for Increasing Health and Physical Fitness of Fire Fighters, Journal of Occupational Medicine, 27(2), 110-114, February 1985
   
   
4. Regular physical activity of moderate intensity has been found to raise the pain threshold, improve energy level, and improve self-efficacy among persons with osteoarthritis. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996
   
   
5. There is some evidence that through physical activity, osteoporotic women can minimize bone loss or facilitate some gain in bone mineral content. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Diabetes

1. Each 500 Kcal of additional leisure-time physical activity per week was associated with a 6% decrease in risk of developing non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Disease, Center for Disease Control, 85-172, 1996

Mental & Nervous (Stress)

1. Four large population studies in the US and Canada have shown that general well-being is somewhat greater, and depression is much less frequent, in those who take exercise relative to those who take little or no exercise. Shephard, Roy J., Exercise and Relaxation in Health Promotion, Sports Medicine, Vol. 23, No. 4, 211-216, April 1997
   
   
2. Exercise helps to lessen the physiological and psychological consequences of stress. Blomquist, Kathleen B., Physical Fitness Programs in Industry, Occupational Health Nursing, 29(7), 30-33,49, July 1981
   
   
3. Employees with depressive disorders are more likely to repeat disability status than employees with heart disease or low back pain. Exercise has long been associated with improved mood. Anspaugh, David J., Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among Exercising Versus Nonexercising Women, American Journal of Health Promotion, 10(3), 171- 174, January/February 1996

Smoking

1. Emmons et al. found that among manufacturing workers, only 12% of the smokers had smoking as their only risk factor. Smokers were more likely than non-smokers to have high fat diets and a sedentary lifestyle. Heaney, Catherine A., A Review of Health-related Outcomes of Multi-component Worksite Health Promotion Programs, American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol. 11, No. 4, 290-307, March/April 1997

top