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Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION

Health Promotion Research Michelle M. Johnston Ferris State University

2 HEALTH PROMOTION Abstract The paper discusses risks and benefits of physical activity. The author will state reasoning and purpose of the topic and viewpoints of the paper and will guide the reader through the research. Online materials, as well as books were used to gather data to present within the body of the paper, which answer the questions and highlight the viewpoints of the authors research. The Appendices of the paper will provide visual aide of the research done to prove that physical activity is a part of a healthy lifestyle, while the research provided on risks to health will conflict.

3 HEALTH PROMOTION Health Promotion Research The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risks and benefits of physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle in people of all ages. According to Pender, Murdaugh, and Parsons (2011), Regular physical activity is essential for healthy, energetic, and productive living. This statement written in a text book raises the questions: Is physical activity always better than no activity? Are there situations in which the long-term risks of physical activity outweigh the benefits? This paper will explore both the benefits of physical activity and the risks of it as it answers the questions asked and motivates its readers to own a healthier lifestyle. The idea that physical activity is good for a persons health is not a new or unheard of idea. Most people know that physical activity and exercise are a part of a healthy lifestyle. There is plenty of information available to the public about the health benefits of physical activity. Just type physical activity into any search engine on the internet and you will be presented with plenteous amounts of information on how the acts of physical activity benefit our health. What about the risks to our health? How may physical activity put our health at risk? There is not as much information readily available to the public on the topic of health risks and physical activity, though the information is there. As health care professionals, are concerned of the benefits of physical activity, they should also be concerned of the potential risks that one may be taking when engaging in physical activity. What is Physical Activity? Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in expenditure of energy and includes occupational, leisure-time, and routine daily activities (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2011). Exercise is defined as a subcategory of physical activity performed during leisure time that is planned, structured, repetitive, and aimed

4 HEALTH PROMOTION at improving or maintaining physical fitness or health (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2011). Physical activity is not referring to exercise specifically, but it is referring to all activity. Benefits The benefits of physical activity can occur in generally healthy people, in people at risk of developing chronic diseases, and in people with current chronic conditions or disabilities (Chapter 2: Physical Activity Has Many Health Benefits, 2008). Some of the benefits are: improved bone health, reduced risk of premature death, improved cardiorespiratory and metabolic health, decreased risk for becoming overweight or obese, preserved bone, joint, and muscle health (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2011). Appendix A contains a table of the benefits of physical activity in more detail, categorized by age group, and the strength of the supporting evidence. According to Wen and Wu (2012), Some physical activity is better than no activity. The dangers of physical inactivity can be compared with the dangers of smoking (Appendix B). In Appendix B, one can see the close relationship between smoking and inactivity as it relates to global deaths per year, differing by only .2 million in numbers. So how could the risks of physical activity ever outweigh the benefits? Risks The health risks of physical activity are not as readily available as the benefits of it. The information on the health risks can be found; however, and the risks may, in some cases, outweigh the benefits. According to Pender, Murdaugh, and Parsons (2011), moderate intensity physical activity is associated with very low risk for adverse events. The majority of the risks of physical activity are related to a person pushing their limits with physical activity and overdoing-it. The risks of aggressive physical activity are: exaggeration of existing clinical conditions, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest (in a person with an undiagnosed heart condition, who is

5 HEALTH PROMOTION normally sedentary), and other heart complications (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2011). The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (2011), states The risk of heart problems due to physical activity is related to your fitness level and the intensity of the activity you're doing. For example, someone who isn't physically fit is at higher risk for a heart attack during vigorous activity than a person who is physically fit. Conclusion We can conclude in comparison of the risks and benefits of physical activity that there are two sides of the story. The benefits of physical activity seem to far outweigh the risks. Though in some situations, it is wise to advise people to be aware that strenuous physical activity may not be beneficial to their health. The risks may outweigh benefits in serious cases of heart complications in which a person has a preexisting condition that has likelihood of becoming agitated with physical activity. The conclusion can then be made that each person and each case should be taken into consideration when it comes to physical activity dos and donts.

6 HEALTH PROMOTION References Pender, N. J., Murdaugh, C. L., & Parsons, M. A. (2011). Health promotion in nursing practice (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Wen, C. P., & Wu, X. (2012). Stressing harms of physical inactivity to promote exercise. The Lancet, 380, 192-193. Retrieved from http://0www.sciencedirect.com.libcat.ferris.edu/science/article/pii/S0140673612609544 Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Physical activity has many health benefits. Physical activity guidelines for Americans (2). Retrieved from http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter2.aspx National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2011). Risks of physical activity. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/phys/risks.html

7 HEALTH PROMOTION Appendix A

Children and Adolescents
Strong evidence

Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness Improved bone health Improved cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers Favorable body composition

Moderate evidence

Reduced symptoms of depression

Adults and Older Adults

Strong evidence

Lower risk of early death Lower risk of coronary heart disease Lower risk of stroke Lower risk of high blood pressure Lower risk of adverse blood lipid profile Lower risk of type 2 diabetes Lower risk of metabolic syndrome Lower risk of colon cancer Lower risk of breast cancer Prevention of weight gain Weight loss, particularly when combined with reduced calorie intake Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness Prevention of falls Reduced depression Better cognitive function (for older adults)

Moderate to strong evidence

Better functional health (for older adults) Reduced abdominal obesity

Moderate evidence

Lower risk of hip fracture Lower risk of lung cancer

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Lower risk of endometrial cancer Weight maintenance after weight loss Increased bone density Improved sleep quality

Note: The Advisory Committee rated the evidence of health benefits of physical activity as strong, moderate, or weak. To do so, the Committee considered the type, number, and quality of studies available, as well as consistency of findings across studies that addressed each outcome. The Committee also considered evidence for causality and dose response in assigning the strength-of-evidence rating.

Retrieved from http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter2.aspx

9 HEALTH PROMOTION Appendix B

Figure. Comparison of global burden between smoking and physical inactivityPrevalence of smoking, population attributable risk (PAR), and global deaths for smoking were obtained from WHO.7 Hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of smoking was obtained from meta-analysis studies. [8] and [9] All inactivity data were obtained from Lee and colleagues.5

Retrieved from: The Lancet http://0www.sciencedirect.com.libcat.ferris.edu/science/article/pii/S0140673612609544