Laney Health Resources Page

The definition of physical activity has many definitions in our society. A general definition would be any form of movement that causes the body to use energy. It is from this simple definition that we will begin providing information to encourage the physically active to continue and motivate the not-so-active teens to become more active and informed.

Physical Fitness

When people say, "I'm physically fit", you end up with two perspectives. There is the perspective of the person talking and that of the listener. Can someone else say how fit you are or how physically active you are? Yes... Are there different levels of physical fitness? Yes. Again, physical fitness is your ability to carry out daily activities easily and still have energy for unexpected demands. So, someone may be physically fit to do daily activities like walking the dog, washing the car, going for short walks, or leisurely lap swimming. If the same person joined a high school swim team, the fitness level may not be at a level that would allow them to carry out the demands of being on the team. In that situation, the person would not be considered physically fit for swimming. The key thing to remember is that being physically fit is specific to the demands you regularly place on your body.

Benefits of Physical Activity

When most people think of benefits from physical activity they may first think of possibly having a fitter appearance, longer life, or maybe of someone who is more approachable.  Physical Activity has also been linked to  being a good for your mental/emotional health by reducing  stress, relaxing muscles and improve your overall mood.