Use it or lose it: The benefits of physical activity

Megan Teychenne

“What is this ‘physical activity’ thing people keep talking about? Simply put, physical activity is movement of the body (this may be your upper or lower body or both) which expends energy. It is important to remember that physical activity does not just mean exercise! Physical activity is an ‘umbrella term’ which encompasses a range of domains, such as being active in your leisure-time (like taking the dog for a walk or going to a dance class), walking and cycling for transport (this may be going to the local shops or it may be in an effort to beat the peak hour traffic), being active at work (like lifting boxes or laying bricks) and even undertaking active chores at home such as gardening and vacuuming …”