Fitness - All Articles

FAQ
Fitness refers to what your body can do, including your muscle strength and how quickly you can move. Exercise, on the other hand, refers to organized and intentional physical activity, such as brisk walking, cycling, strength training, and stretching, all of which can improve your fitness level.
Exercise is a healthy habit. Its short-term benefits include a brighter mood and better sleep. In the long term, regular exercise can lower your risk of chronic diseases such as dementia, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
The five components of physical fitness are: cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by VO2 max), musculoskeletal fitness (including muscle strength), flexibility, balance, and speed.

Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN
Medical Reviewer
Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN, is the director of health promotion for Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. She is also licensed as an exercise physiologist and certified in lifestyle ...

Justin Laube, MD
Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, a...

Joseph Hribick, PT, DPT, COMT, FAAOMPT
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Joseph Hribick is a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. He's an alumnus of Lebanon Valley College and received his bache...

Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES
Medical Reviewer
Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She comp...

Jennifer Payne, MD
Medical Reviewer
Jennifer Payne, MD, is a physician at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
She earned her bachelor's from the University of St. Thomas, majoring in biochemistry and minoring in t...
Luis Manrique-Trujillo, MD
Medical Reviewer

Allison M. Fout, PA-C
Medical Reviewer
Allison M. Fout, PA-C, has 20 years of experience as a Physician Assistant with a career rooted in orthopedic care. Since 2015, she has been a provider at Excelsior Orthopaedics in...

Samuel Mackenzie, MD, PhD
Medical Reviewer
Samuel Mackenzie, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Child Neurology, Neuromuscular Disease, and Neuroscience at University of Rochester Medical Center. He completed his undergr...

Chelsea Vinas, MS, LMFT
Medical Reviewer
Chelsea Vinas is a licensed psychotherapist who has a decade of experience working with individuals, families, and couples living with anxiety, depression, trauma, and those experi...

Scott Haak, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS
Medical Reviewer
Scott Haak, PT, DPT, has been a member of the Mayo Clinic staff since 2000. Dr. Haak serves as faculty for the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic Florida. He is cert...

Heather Jeffcoat, PT, DPT
Medical Reviewer
Heather Jeffcoat, PT, DPT, is a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Femina Physical Therapy and Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy, both of which focus on pelvic health a...

Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CF-L1
Medical Reviewer
Aubrey Bailey is a doctor of physical therapy with a specialization in hand therapy based in Virginia.

Grant Chu, MD, MS, MBA, FACP
Medical Reviewer
Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the ...

Kristina D. Carter, PharmD
Medical Reviewer
Kristina D. Carter, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist and freelance health writer who currently works in a managed care setting, performing quality audits on utilization management ...

Reyna Franco, RDN
Medical Reviewer
Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American Col...

Kara Smythe, MD
Medical Reviewer
Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecolog...

Sylvia E. Klinger, DBA, MS, RD, CPT
Medical Reviewer
Sylvia Klinger, DBA, MS, RD, CPT, is an internationally recognized nutrition expert who is relentlessly passionate about helping people fall in love with creating and enjoying deli...

Natalie Sampson, PT, DPT
Medical Reviewer
- Caspersen CJ et al. Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness: Definitions and Distinctions for Health-Related Research. Public Health Reports. March–April 1985.
- Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity. National Institute on Aging.
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