It is done by various reasons including strengthening muscles and the
cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well
as for the purpose of enjoyment.
Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps
prevent the "diseases of affluence" such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease,
Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
It also improves mental health, prevents depression, helps promoting or
maintaining a positive self-esteem, and can even increase an individual's sex
appeal or body image, which is also found to be linked with higher levels of self-
esteem.
Childhood obesity is a growing global concern and physical exercise may help
decrease the effects of childhood obesity in developed countries.
Health care providers often call exercise the "miracle" or "wonder" drug - alluding
to the wide variety of proven benefits that it provides.