Exercise really is the best medicine:
- It powerfully prevents and treats diseases across almost every system—from heart and metabolism to muscles, bones, mood, and cognition.
- It boosts longevity, lowering the risk of early death and supporting a higher quality of life as we age.
- It brings economic, social, and emotional benefits, especially when done in communities or groups.
- The type and timing of activity—whether aerobic, strength, HIIT, group classes, or leisure movement—can be tailored to individual needs and still deliver results.
- And perhaps most importantly, even small, consistent efforts can yield significant gains. Starting is the hardest part—but once you begin, the benefits compound quickly.
Stats
- Exercise reduces heart disease risk by 40%
- Improves symptonms of osteorarthritis by 22%-83%; reduces pain by 25%-52%
- Reduces risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 50%-80%
- Reduces risk of falls by 30%-50%; and risk of hiop fracture by 35%-68%
- Reduces all cause mortality risk by 30%
- Reduces risk of stroke by 20% to 40%
- Reduces risk of developing dementia by 20%-50%
- This is from a report entitled: “Exercise – the miracle cure’ published in 2015
- https://www.aomrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Exercise_the_Miracle_Cure_0215.pdf