Fitness and Exercise Sourcebook 4 edition

Regular physical activity provides numerous health benefits, includ-ing a reduced risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, some cancers, and heart disease, as well as increased mental well-being, longevity, and life satisfaction. Beginning a physical fitness program is important at any age, and it can provide a lifelong love of fitness in children, increased strength and endurance in adults, and improved balance and flex-ibility in the elderly. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 39% of Americans engage in no leisure-time physical activity.

Fitness and Exercise Sourcebook, Fourth Edition provides updated information about the health benefits of physical activity. It discusses the guidelines for physical activity in people of all ages and diverse fitness levels including those with disabilities, chronic diseases, or other challenges. It describes ways to make exercise fun and offers suggestions for incorporating fitness into everyday activities. Ways to maintain motivation and set fitness goals are described, and different types of physical activity "including aerobic, strength, balance, and mind-body" are detailed. Information on safety concerns, nutrition and hydration, and equipment needs is included, and an end section offers a glossary of related terms and a directory of organizations that provide information about physical fitness and exercise.