ABSTRACT
Amongst the many important things that each of us can do in our daily lives, there is no single lifestyle habit or practice that is more powerfully associated with improved short- and long-term health and quality of life than regular physical activity. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as all-cause mortality. In fact, even very small amounts of regular physical activity can result in significant lowering of the risk of both CVD and all-cause mortality. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that significantly increase the risk of CVD. Lifestyle modalities, including physical activity, are the cornerstone of diabetes care. People with diabetes should be encouraged to perform aerobic and resistance training regularly. Regular physical activity has also been shown to lower the risk of excessive weight gain during pregnancy and reducing the risk of gestational diabetes.
