Fitness for young adults

Fitness is usually used for losing some pounds or just to get in shape, but it has lots of benefits for your health. When I say fitness I don't remind you only of the gym, but also of jogging, swimming and other sports practice.

Fitness reduces the risk for the metabolic syndrome, a constellation of factors that includes excess abdominal fat, elevated blood pressure and triglycerides, and low levels of the high-density lipoprotein, the “good” cholesterol. Further, improving fitness in healthy young adults can cut by as much as 50 percent the risk for diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.“Given the epidemic of obesity in the United States and the decline in people’s physical activity, it’s important that Americans take steps to improve their physical fitness,” cautioned Dr. Mercedes Carnethon, Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. “If all the young adults in our study had been fit, there would have been nearly a third fewer cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.”

Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death for Americans. Nearly 13 million Americans have heart disease and nearly 5 million have had a stroke.

Americans don’t have to run marathons to improve their physical fitness,” said Cheryl Nelson, NHLBI Project Officer for the study. “They should try to engage in at least 30 minutes of a moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking on most and, preferably, all days of the week. Being physically active will not only improve their fitness but also help them maintain a healthy weight, which in turn will protect their heart health.”

Stay healthy! Go out and play! Practice sports and even go to the gym! Stay healthy!