Physical activity in daily life can be categorized into occupational, sports, conditioning, household, or other activities. For example, walking to class, taking the stairs, mowing the lawn, and even cleaning your house can be considered physical activity.

At all ages, the benefits of being physically active outweigh potential harm, for example through accidents.

Epidemiology is defined as the study of distribution or events specified in populations and the application of this study to prevent health related problems.

WHO is working on a new global action plan, which will leverage the contributions of all relevant sectors, in particular, environment, education, health, sports and technology to accelerate progress in achieving the global voluntary NCD targets set by the World Health Assembly for 2025 and the SDG targets set for 2030.The plan will provide policy options for Member States, international partners and WHO, and developed in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, taking into account current scientific knowledge, available evidence, a review of international experience, innovations, and data.WHO defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure – including activities undertaken while working, playing, carrying out household chores, travelling, and engaging in recreational pursuits.The term "physical activity" should not be confused with "exercise", which is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and aims to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness.
Saving Lives, Protecting People,COVID-19: How to Be Physically Active While Social Distancing,Status Report for Step it Up! Walking, running, dancing, swimming, yoga, and gardening are a few examples of physical activity. It proposes different policy options to reach the recommended levels of physical activity globally, such as:To measure physical activity in adults, WHO has developed the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). In order to be beneficial for cardiorespiratory health, all activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration.Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling, or doing sports – has significant benefits for health. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/physical-activity/definitions,Find More Information on the Government of BC Website.Here are some definitions of commonly used physical activity terms.If you have questions about physical activity or exercise, call 8-1-1  (or 7-1-1 for the deaf and heard of hearing) toll-free in B.C. Exercise, however, is planned, structured, repetitive and intentional movement intended to improve or maintain physical fitness. It also reduces anxiety.Why it matters, what CDC is doing, and making a difference,Statistics, reports, and surveillance systems,Physical activity at work and worksite walking programs,Reports, recommendations, and fact sheets,Learn how people of all ages and conditions can.To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address.Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


The author offers a definition of exercise, including its distinction from physical activity and how the two terms are not the same and should not be used interchangeably. This questionnaire helps countries monitor insufficient physical activity as one of the main NCD risk factors. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.

Surgeon General’s Call to Action,Activity Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations,Module 2: Infrastructure to Accommodate Pedestrians,Module 2A: Infrastructure to Accommodate Pedestrians and Bicyclists,Module 2B: Infrastructure to Accommodate Pedestrians,Module 2C: Infrastructure to Accommodate Bicyclists,Module 5: Parks and Recreational Facilities,Adult Physical Inactivity Prevalence Maps,Arthritis — Physical Activity for Arthritis,Disabilities — Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults with Disabilities,U.S. Walking, gardening, briskly pushing a baby stroller, climbing the stairs, playing soccer, or dancing the night away are all good examples of being active. It also reduces anxiety. This means communicating in clear terms with patients.