The many health benefits of living an active lifestyle

We all know that exercise is good for you. Numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of regular physical activity for older adults. An active lifestyle decreases your risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. It can even help improve things like balance. National Health and Fitness Day is a day that is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of activity and to encouraging more Canadians to get moving. There are many effective forms of exercise that vary in intensity: from walking, aquatic exercise and yoga, to high intensity interval training and strength training. Whatever your preference may be, consider incorporating some form of fitness into your everyday routine to benefit your long-term health and well-being.

Read more about what the research says about the benefits of various forms of exercise:


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DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.