7

Exercise

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing

interest in the role of exercise in promoting health. This

chapter examines the development of the contemporary

interest in exercise and describes definitions of exercise and

fitness. The chapter then examines the physical and

psychological benefits of exercise, describes programmes

designed to increase exercise uptake and evaluates social/

political and individual predictors of exercise behaviour.

This chapter covers:

➧ What is exercise?

➧ Why exercise?

➧ What factors predict exercise?

➧ Exercise relapse

167