F

fitness level The ability of the body to perform
physical activity. Fitness encompasses AEROBIC
CAPACITY (cardiovascular fitness), STRENGTH, and
FLEXIBILITY. These three components combine to
help configure a person’s LEAN MUSCLE MASS,BODY
FAT PERCENTAGE, and BODY MASS INDEX(BMI), which
are key risk factors for numerous health condi-
tions, including CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE(CVD) and
DIABETES. A high fitness level, indicating daily
physical exercise, reduces numerous HEALTH RISK
FACTORS. Conversely a low fitness level, indicating
physical inactivity, correlates to increased health
risk.
Exercise physiologists use various scales to
quantify an individual’s fitness level. Some assess-
ment scales emphasize cardiovascular fitness and
others measure general fitness. CONDITIONING,
which targets overall fitness status, and TRAINING,
which prepares a person for a particular event or
activity often at a competitive level, are structured
methods to improve a person’s fitness level.
People whose fitness levels are “very poor” or
“poor” do not receive enough physical activity to
support their bodies in health and are at increased
risk for injury and health disorders. A “moderate”
fitness level meets general PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOM-
MENDATIONS to support health, weight manage-
ment, and reduction of health risk factors. People
who have a “good” fitness level enjoy optimum
benefit from physical activity. People who have a
“very good” fitness level dedicate focused effort to
physical fitness and are often athletes who partici-
pate in organized or competitive events.
As with EATING HABITS and nutrition, fitness
level represents an integration of physical exercise
into lifestyle such that activity is an inherent com-
ponent of daily living. Many people can find ways
to increase physical exercise through their daily

activities, which can be as effective as structured

exercise and makes the most of available time.

Activities such as gardening, cleaning house,

washing the car, mowing the grass (especially

with a nonmotorized mower), and walking when-

ever possible are among the many ways to

increase physical exertion on a daily basis that

result in improved fitness level over time. Though

physical activity recommendations and fitness

level classifications may appear daunting to people

who are not presently active and whose lives are

busy, fitness is the accumulated result of numer-

ous and daily small physical efforts that pay off in

big ways when it comes to health as well as satis-

faction with how one feels and looks.

See also BODY SHAPE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE;

EXERCISE AND HEALTH; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH; OBESITY;

OBESITY AND HEALTH; WALKING FOR FITNESS; WEEKEND

WARRIOR; WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT.

flat feet A structural circumstance in which the

ligaments in the foot do not support the bones to

form an appreciable arch. The arch of the foot

helps cushion the foot’s structure during impact.

Young children normally have flat feet until regu-

lar walking and running strengthens the muscles

and ligaments of the feet, a process that typically

occurs between the ages of 3 and 10 years. Unless

there is an underlying deformity, there is no med-

ical reason to attempt to treat flat feet in young

children because it is the normal state of the feet.

Adults sometimes speak of having “fallen

arches,” a casual term that refers to stretching and

loosening of the foot ligaments that sometimes

occurs with increasing age. Flat feet that develop

in such a way are more common in people who

are physically inactive and overweight. Extra body

weight stresses the feet’s structure in the absence

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