Physical activity is any active movement of the body that expends energy, while exercise is a sub-category involving muscular contractions. Sedentary behavior is an absence of physical activity. Studies show children engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 18.9-164 minutes per day and adults 12-99.4 minutes per day. Guidelines recommend both children and adults perform physical activity more than 5 days a week as well as strengthening exercises 3 days a week, with adults aiming for over 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity weekly to reduce mortality risks by 30-40%.

1. Physical activity
Exercise For Health.

2. Q: What is physical
activity?

3. A: Physical activity is any active
movement of the body that is
produced by muscular contractions and
that results in the expenditure of
energy

4. Q: What is exercise?

5. A: Exercise is a sub-category of physical
activity, as are various types of
occupation, sport, errands and
household chores

6. Q: What is sedentary
behaviour?

7. A: Sedentary behaviour is simply an
absence of physical activity

8. Q: How much physical
activity do children
perform?

9. A: Studies show that children from pre-
school to adolescence engage in
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
of ~ 18.9 – 164 minutes per day

10. Q: How much physical
activity do adults
perform?

11. A: Studies show that adults engage in
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
of ~ 12 – 99.4 minutes per day,
depending on the population

12. Q: What are the effects of
sedentary behaviour and
physical activity on all-
cause mortality?

13. A: Being among those undertaking the
highest levels of moderate physical
activity is associated with a reduction
in all-cause mortality of ~ 30 – 40%

14. Q: What do guidelines
prescribe regarding
physical activity and
sedentary behaviour?

15. A: Guidelines recommend both children and
adults perform physical activity >5 days per
week as well as strengthening exercises 3 days
per week. For adults, guidelines recommend
>150 minutes of structured, moderate-to-
vigorous physical activity per week

16. For more information:
www.exercise-for-health.com/physical-activity

17. Exercise For Health.