Author: Derek Chan, College student writer

Fitness doesn't just mean strong muscles.

Being fit has many benefits:

• A healthier heart
  
• Healthier muscles bones, and joints
  
• Less stress
  
• More energy
  
• Better sleep
  
• Reduced depression and anxiety
  
• Ability to think more clearly

Fitness also helps lower your risk for certain medical problems, which can help you live longer and healthier when you get older. Some bad things that being fit can help prevent include:

• Strokes (a problem with blood flowing to your brain can cause damage)
  
• Heart attacks (your heart stops working)
  
• Diabetes (too much sugar in your blood causes medical problems)
  
• High blood pressure (you can feel weak, sweaty or dizzy)
  
• Becoming obese (having too much body fat can make it hard to do certain things and increase your chances of having a heart attack, stroke and other problems)
  
• Low back pain (imagine being in pain while walking or just bending!)
  
• Depression (yes, it is a medical condition)

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References

National Women's Health Information Center. 4Girls Health. Fit for Life. Accessed July 2004.

Nemours Foundation. Be a Fit Kid. Accessed July 2004.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Fitness. Accessed July 2004.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Benefits of Fitness. Accessed May 2006.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Establishing a Fitness Routines. Accessed May 2006.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Preparing to Get Fit. Accessed July 2004.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Maintaining the Lifestyle. Accessed July 2004.

Nemours Foundation. Body Mass Index. Accessed July 2004.

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