that improves fitness and physical exercise that improves health. This distinction
illustrates a shift in emphasis from intensive exercise resulting in cardiovascular
fitness to moderate exercise resulting in mild changes in health status. It also
illustrates a shift towards using a definition of health that includes both biological
and psychological changes.3 Location. Distinctions have also been made in terms of location. For example,
Paffenbarger and Hale (1975) differentiated between occupational activity, which was
performed as part of an individual’s daily work, and leisure activity, which was carried
out in the individual’s leisure time.
These definitions are not mutually exclusive and illustrate the different ways exercise has
been conceptualized.
WHO EXERCISES?
The healthy people 2000 programmes in the USA show that only 23 per cent of adults
engage in light to moderate physical activity five times per week and up to a third remain
completely sedentary across all industrialized countries (Allied Dunbar Fitness survey
1992; United States National Center for Health Statistics 1996). The results of a survey,
in which men and women were asked about their exercise behaviour, are shown in
Figure 7.1. They suggest that the four most common forms of exercise are walking,
swimming, snooker/pool/billiards and keep fit/yoga.
WHY EXERCISE?
Research has examined the possible physical and psychological benefits of exercise.
Fig. 7-1 Participation in sport, 1990 (after General Household Survey 1992)EXERCISE 169