Free Employee Wellness Handout – The Benefits of Physical Activity

Editor’s Note: Injury prevention and wellness handouts are an effective (and inexpensive) way to educate and motivate employees to use good work practices and take care of their bodies.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for the free Wellness Handout PDF file.

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The Benefits of Physical Activity

The benefits of physical activity are well documented, yet a recent research survey documents that only 28% of people surveyed reported exercise as a daily habit.

It is vitally important that you consider staying physically active as part of your wellness plan. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days a week has tremendous health benefits.

Every Step Counts

If you’re just beginning an exercise regimen, take it slow and gradually increase your workout intensity and duration. A good start would be to use a pedometer to track how many steps you are taking each day.

Beginners should walk about 5,000 steps per day. 10,000 steps per day is recommended for general health and 15,000 steps per day is recommended for fat loss.

Remember – take it one day at a time and gradually increase your activity level. You can do it!

Benefits of Physical Activity

There are many benefits to physical activity — from reducing your risk of chronic disease to decreasing the stress in your life. Here are just a few of the benefits:

Individuals who exercise regularly are LESS likely to develop:

Heart Disease
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Certain forms of cancer
Osteoporosis

Individuals who exercise regularly are MORE likely to:

Maintain a healthy body weight
Increase energy levels; decrease fatigue
Improve skin and hair health – look younger (nutrients are transported to the skin and hair through oxygen transportation during exercise)
Decrease stress incurred during daily living
Improve mood; release tension
Improve mental fitness – ability to focus and concentrate·
Improved job performance –perform activities with better ease; less fatigue; improved effectiveness
Effectively control the pain and joint swelling that accompanies arthritis
Maintain lean muscle, which is often lost with increasing age
Have higher levels of self-esteem and self confidence, an improved self image
Continue to perform activities of daily living as they grow older
Experience overall feelings of well-being and good health