Fitness has been shown to be the most important lifestyle factor for good health. Many health experts believe increasing physical activity and exercise is an almost magic elixer for improved well being.

Yet, despite the proven health and psychological benefits of increased fitness, a large percentage of the population does not get a sufficient level of physical activity for optimum health.

If fitness and exercise are so important to our health, why don't more people get adequate amounts of physical activity?

Six reasons are often suggested:

• Past bad experiences with exercise
• Lack of energy or being tired
• Not enough time available
• Worried about getting hurt
• Bad weather, lack sidewalks, neighborhood not safe
• Concerned about feeling self-conscious

Sadly, these concerns get in the way of the most valuable thing people can do to improve their health -- increasing their fitness through increased physical activity and exercise.

Another roadblock to fitness is people believing that exercise is critically important to weight management. People begin a weight loss program which includes exercise and, when it doesn't work, they stop and lose out on all of the benefits (which doesn't included weight loss) of increased fitness.

Finally, people often overestimate the amount of physical activity which is necessary for a level of fitness that improves health. Research studies have now demonstrated that a majority of the health benefits of increased fitness come from only a moderate increase in physical activity.

What's need is a more accurate understanding of the impact of fitness on health and the best methods to increase physical activity and exercise without it being a burden.

That's the purpose of the articles listed below.

If you want additional information about fitness, beyond what's provided in these articles, here is an additional resource you may want to access.

Comprehensive home-study health and fitness course