Physical Activity and Your Health

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Public Health
Seattle & King County
401 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104

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Phone: 206-296-4600
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	Home » Physical activity

Physical Activity
Physical activity and your health

Physical Activity video screenshot. Click here to activate video. Requires Real Media Player to view.

Watch this video as a King County woman tells how she learned to add physical activity to her daily routine.

*Requires the Real Media Player installed on your computer. Download and install the free Real Player Basic.

	Why move?
	Get active your way
	Working to increase physical activity in King County
	Older adults
	Children and youth
	Health of King County Report (2006) -- See Chapter 5, "Risk Factors for Chronic Disease and Injury
	About the King County Physical Activity Coalition (KCPAC)

Why move?

Performing Tai Chi exercises

Physical activity is good for every body and is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. The benefits of physical activity are well-documented:

Stronger bones
Lower blood pressure
Better balance
Better sleep
Better mood
Fewer aches and pains
More energy
Healthier heart and lungs
Reduce the risk for diabetes and some types of cancer

How much?

Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity a day on most days of the week. Your activity can be spread out through the day. Try for 10 minutes at a time, but even a few minutes counts.

Made to move

Woman lifting weights

Bodies are made to move and when they don’t move enough, health can suffer. Health problems related to not getting enough physical activity:

Stiff joints
Heart disease
Diabetes
Weight gain
Low energy
Depression

These are just a few problems related to inactivity. If you are not getting any physical activity now, even a few minutes a day could make a big difference in the way you feel.

What kind of activity counts?

Kids swimming in lake

There are many different ways to get the physical activity your body needs. It doesn’t have to be strenuous to be good for you: swimming, gardening, biking, dancing, yoga, walking, skating, mowing the lawn, doing housework or playing catch - they all count!

The important thing is that you find something you like to do and get started today.

*Image of elders participating in Tai-Chi exercises and African American woman lifting weights courtesy of the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center

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Walking maps in King County

For good health every person should do 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the day on five or more days of the week.

“Live outside the box”
Stressing the health benefits of reducing TV and screen time.

Healthy Eating for Lifetime
What we choose to eat can have a direct affect on our ability to enjoy life to its fullest. This is true for everyone, despite his or her age and current health.

Healthy Aging Parnership
As an active partner to the Health Aging Partnership, Public Health - Seattle & King County helps to promote healthy aging through community partnerships.

King County Asthma Resources

An estimated 22,209 King County children under 18 have asthma. It is the second leading cause of hospitalization in children in King County.

Updated: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 05:02 PM

All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice. For more information please call 206-296-4600 (voice) or TTY Relay: 711. Mailing address: ATTN: Communications Team, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 401 5th Ave., Suite 1300, Seattle, WA 98104 or click here to email us. Because of confidentiality concerns, questions regarding client health issues cannot be responded to by e-mail. Click here for the Notice of Privacy Practices. For more information, contact the Public Health Privacy Office at 206-205-5975.

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