Physical Education and Health

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Physical Activity and Exercise

Module 001 Physical Activity and Exercise

Living a healthy lifestyle requires more than eating well and moving more.
This module gives you a general idea on physical activities and exercise, and
why it is important to have a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle.
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Illustrates the relationships of health behaviors (eating habits, sleep and
stress management) to health risks factors and physical activity
assessment performance
2. Describe the role of physical activity assessments in managing one’s stress.

Physical Activity and Exercise

The government as well as various organizations in the Philippines have always been
committed to promoting health and wellness in the community. The Department of Health
(DOH), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) are among the well-known groups
that helped raise awareness on the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

What is Physical Activity?

Physical Activity in its most basic definition, refers to any form of movement of the
body that makes use of its energy.

Types of Physical Activity

One of the misconceptions about physical activity is that it is limited to sports and
exercise. While it is true that these activities consume energy, there are other forms of
physical activity, which can be classified according to their purpose:
 Occupational
 Transport-related
 Household
 Recreational
Sports and exercise may fall under the Recreational physical activity. Other activities,
such as household chores can still be called as physical activities.

Course Module
 What is Exercise?
Exercise is defined as a planned program consisting of various physical activities
which will help boost one’s physical fitness level. While this is different from physical
activity it is also designed to help improve the physical well-being.
Physical fitness is a broad term that refers to the person’s capacity to effectively cope
with the demands of daily activities, as well as leisurely ones. With exercise, we can
help boost the following physical components of physical fitness:
1. Aerobic capacity. This is the ability of the heart, lungs and blood vessels to supply
oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, particularly to the working muscles to
sustain rhythmical exercises.
2. Muscular strength. This is the capability of the human muscle to generate force.
Improving one’s muscle strength will protect the body from severe injuries caused
by accidents such as falling.
3. Muscular endurance. This is the muscle’s capability to withstand fatigue. Having
great muscle endurance allows a person to do multiple physical activities without
tiring.
4. Flexibility. This is the ability to painlessly move a joint over its entire range of
motion. Certain physical activities promote this component of physical fitness.
5. Body composition. This is the total make-up of the body. It is composed of two
factors: the lean body mass and the body fat. Body composition also refers to the
ratio of these two factors.

The Importance of having an Active Lifestyle

Numerous experts and institutions such as DOH and WHO have been promoting the
benefits of having an active lifestyle. One of the most relevant benefits of an active
lifestyle is that it can help avoid the development of non-communicable diseases.
These include the following:
 hypertension
 type 2 diabetes
 heart disease
 some forms of cancer
Another important benefit of having an active lifestyle is that it can help manage one’s
stress. Physical activities and exercise boost not just the body but the mind as well.
Experts have proven the psychological benefits of exercise. It can improve the mood
of an individual and ease his/her anxiety.
Exercise is also used in coping with stress and depression. Some scientists have
claimed that it helps release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Moreover,
exercise boost one’s self-esteem and even helps people socialize with others.
 Physical Education and Health
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Physical Activity and Exercise

Glossary
Exercise: a special type of physical activity performed during leisure to improve fitness.
Non-communicable diseases: these are medical conditions/diseases that are non-
infectious or non-transmissible.
Physical Activity: All forms of movement that result to energy expenditure

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
Fernando-Callo, L and Dajime, P.F.; 2016; Physical Education and Health Volume 1;
Philippines; Rex Bookstore Inc. (RBSI)

Course Module