It is no secret that there are health benefits to staying active. But there are subtle differences between physical activity and exercise. According to Penn State College of Medicine, physical activity happens anytime that you use your body’s muscles to expend energy through movement. For example, standing at your desk instead of sitting can increase your physical activity. But WebMD says that standing at your desk should not replace exercise.
On the other hand, exercise involves pushing your heart rate past its normal levels when at rest (via Medical News Today). There are several different types of exercise, such as walking, taking the stairs, going for a jog, and even engaging in aerobic exercise. When you build muscle mass through exercise — like weight lifting — you engage in strength training or anaerobic exercise. Furthermore, sports can help you train agility, and certain exercises, like yoga, can boost your balance and flexibility through stretching. There are numerous health benefits associated with exercise. The experts at Healthline say that exercise can help you lose weight, boost your mood, and even relieve pain. Too much inactivity, however, can negatively impact your health (per National Health Service). Health Digest conducted a survey and asked respondents how many days per week they typically exercised. The results may surprise you.
