ABSTRACT
Surveys show that a large majority of adults believe that regular physical activity is good for health, although this does not necessarily translate into them getting suf-—cient activity. This concept of the importance of regular activity has a long history. In this chapter, we review some of the early comments on this topic, and trace the development of this theme throughout the twentieth century and up to the present. Space limitations prevent an exhaustive review of information on physical activity and health, and our comments are based on our own experience, a selective review, and recent events.
