ABSTRACT
The combination of aerobic and anaerobic activities in an individual’s weekly physical activity is recommended to reach the highest potential of cardiorespiratory fitness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all individuals participate in 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Physical activity, any movement of the body that burns calories, is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity has been linked to helping to boost mood, elevating self-esteem, increasing energy, reducing tension, relieving stress, and improving concentration and alertness. Environmental factors play a large role in whether individuals participate in physical activity. Individuals may become discouraged from participating in physical activity if they are exposed to fear of violence or crime, high-density traffic, pollution, or lack of green space. A large amount of the research on the topic, globally and in the United States, lacks information that separates physical activity data on gender.
