Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being that extends beyond the presence of disease. It includes aging well, longevity, quality of life and freedom from pain and other unpleasant sensations.
Fitness is a set of attributes or conditions that are either health-related, skill-related or both (such as the ability to perform specific functions). The degree to which a person has these attributes can be determined by various tests.
The World Health Organization defines health as “the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In contrast, the term fitness is often used to describe a person’s physical capability to do a certain activity.
There are five components of physical fitness that can be considered health-related: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, body composition, and cardiorespiratory endurance. These are the areas that you can focus on in your fitness journey to ensure a well-rounded, active lifestyle.
Cardiovascular fitness, also called cardiorespiratory endurance, is your body’s ability to exercise for a long time while keeping your heart and lungs healthy. This can be accomplished through a variety of exercises, including jogging, running, cycling, swimming, and walking.
Performing these types of exercises helps your heart and lungs work more efficiently, delivering oxygen to your muscles. This is essential for maintaining good physical health, as it reduces your risk of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Muscular strength is a key factor in physical fitness, as it determines your ability to perform specific tasks and activities. This is achieved through a variety of ways, such as lifting weights and working out with a resistance band.
Flexibility is another critical component of physical fitness, as it allows your muscles to move through a full range of motion. It can be improved through a variety of exercises, such as yoga and tai chi.
Body composition is a vital aspect of physical fitness, as it determines how much fat, muscle, and bone is in your body. Maintaining the ideal amount of body fat is important for a number of health reasons, such as reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases and illnesses.
Your body’s physical fitness level can be tested with a variety of different measures, such as height and weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, and strength tests. These measures can be used to determine if your levels of health-related fitness are high or low, and what you need to improve on in order to reach optimal levels.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, as well as at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise. In addition to these recommendations, you should try to limit your sedentary behavior, particularly recreational screen time.