Physical fitness

            Physical fitness is a necessity for everyone regardless of race, culture, or sex in order to live a long healthy life. In order to achieve physical fitness, you must be able to perform daily tasks vigorously, while avoiding diseases related to a lack of activity. There are many benefits of physical fitness like endurance, good figure, muscular strength, and flexibility. Some mental benefits include a positive attitude, high self-esteem, and the production of endorphins, which act as a natural painkiller. .
             There have been many benefits of physical activity, which were always praised throughout history. It was not until the 1970s, that enough information was available on physical fitness. The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association has since begun issuing physical activity recommendations to the public. Some of these recommendations include cardio-respiratory exercises and sustained periods of vigorous activity. The past several years the ACSM, CDC, AHA, PCPFS, and NIH have also recommended regular, moderate physical activity. .
             There are also risks involved with physical activity. The most common health problem related to physical activity is muscle and skeletal injury. These injuries can occur with almost any amount of exercise when the body is not conditioned. Flexibility and the proper education associated with these exercises are usually over looked. Some of the more serious risks associated with physical activity include heart attacks or sudden death when people are unaccustomed to exercise.
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             Physical fitness can be divided into five categories that include aerobic fitness, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Aerobic fitness refers to your body's ability to endure 10 minutes of continuous exercise. Muscular strength describes the amount of force you generate using your muscles. Endurance is the amount of force you can generate repeatedly.