Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a key index that relates to one’s height and weight. It is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his/her height in meters. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has now defined BMI to be the deciding parameter to know if you are underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. Hence, knowing your BMI is a very important factor in maintaining a healthy body and an optimum fitness level. A healthy BMI can also help you keep diseases like heart problem, type 2 diabetes and hypertension at bay. A normal BMI is an indicator of being at your ideal weight. BMI is basically a quantified measure for the amount of tissue mass, that is muscles, fat and bones, of an individual.However, if you are an athlete or an overall active person, your body weight may be high not because of fat but because of muscle. Muscle is denser than fat and abundance of muscle means more weight and hence, higher BMI. But in such a situation, it is not unhealthy because it doesn’t have the associated health risks which a high BMI reading carries. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, Fitness — Written by Adam Felman on June 27, 2019 Exercise involves engaging in physical activity and increasing the heart rate beyond resting levels. It is an important part of preserving physical and mental health. Whether people engage in light exercise, such as going for a walk, or high intensity activities, for example, uphill cycling or weight training, regular exercise provides a huge range of benefits for the body and mind. Taking part in exercise of any intensity every day is essential for preventing a range of diseases and other health issues. In this article, we explain the different types of exercise and their benefits, as well as the considerations for designing a fitness regime. People divide exercise into three broad categories:
We describe each of these categories below. Aerobic exerciseShare on PinterestThere are several types of exercise, and they provide a range of benefits for health and well-being. Aerobic exercise aims to improve how the body uses oxygen. Most aerobic exercise takes place at average levels of intensity over longer periods. An aerobic exercise session involves warming up, exercising for at least 20 minutes, and then cooling down. Aerobic exercise mostly uses large muscle groups. Aerobic exercise provides the following benefits: Anaerobic exerciseAnaerobic exercise does not use oxygen for energy. People use this type of exercise to build power, strength, and muscle mass. These exercises are high-intensity activities that should last no longer than around 2 minutes. Anaerobic exercises include:
While all exercise benefits the heart and lungs, anaerobic exercise provides fewer benefits for cardiovascular health than aerobic exercise and uses fewer calories. However, it is more effective than aerobic exercise for building muscle and improving strength. Increasing muscle mass causes the body to burn more fat, even when resting. Muscle is the most efficient tissue for burning fat in the body. Agility trainingAgility training aims to improve a person’s ability to maintain control while speeding up, slowing down, and changing direction. In tennis, for example, agility training helps a player maintain control over their court positioning through good recovery after each shot. People who take part in sports that heavily rely on positioning, coordination, speed, and balance need to engage in agility training regularly. The following sports are examples of ones that require agility:
Stretching and flexibilitySome exercises combine stretching, muscle conditioning, and balance training. A popular and effective example is yoga. Yoga movements improve balance, flexibility, posture, and circulation. The practice originated in India thousands of years ago and aims to unify the mind, body, and spirit. Modern yoga uses a combination of meditation, posture, and breathing exercises to achieve the same goals. A yoga practitioner can tailor a course for individual needs. A person looking to manage arthritis might need gentle stretches to improve mobility and function. Someone with depression, on the other hand, may need more emphasis on the relaxation and deep breathing elements of yoga. Pilates is another stretching option that promotes flexibility and core strength. Tai chi is also an effective option for exercise that promotes calm stretching rather than intensity. Here, learn more about yoga. A sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of the following health problems:
It can also contribute to an increased risk of premature death from all causes, including the complications of being overweight and obesity. In many parts of the world, including the United States, the number of overweight and obese people continues to increase rapidly. According to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, that researchers did in 2013–2014 across the U.S., more than 2 in 3 adults are overweight or obesity. The same survey found that around 1 in 13 adults have extreme obesity and face an increased risk of severe health complications. Discover how to prevent cardiovascular disease. Share on PinterestTaking the stairs instead of an elevator can be a great way for busy people to meet exercise guidelines. Fitting exercise into a busy schedule can be a roadblock to a successful regime. However, people do not need to dedicate large amounts of extra time to exercise to see the benefits. Here are some tips for fitting physical activity in a busy schedule:
People will likely gain the most benefit from exercises they enjoy that fit their lifestyle.
Exercise is sometimes a gradual learning curve. A person should spread sessions across the week and scale up the intensity slowly. It is important for people to ensure they drink plenty of water during and after exercise. Checking with a doctor is a good precaution to take if someone has a health condition or injury that could impact exercise levels, or that exercise could make worse. While a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise provides the most benefit, any exercise is better than none for people who currently have an inactive lifestyle. GuidelinesCurrent U.S. guidelines recommend that people do one of the following:
Toward these goals, it is worth remembering that even 10-minute bursts of physical activity during the day provide health benefits. Exercise may be difficult to maintain for some people. Consider the following tips to achieve long-term success:
The benefits of regular physical activity are wide-reaching and should form a part of every person’s day to help them remain healthy. Last medically reviewed on June 27, 2019
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