PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Warburton, Darren E.R.
AU  - Nicol, Crystal Whitney
AU  - Bredin, Shannon S.D.
TI  - Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence
AID  - 10.1503/cmaj.051351
DP  - 2006 Mar 14
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 801--809
VI  - 174
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/6/801.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/6/801.full
SO  - CMAJ2006 Mar 14; 174
AB  - The primary purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate the current literature and to provide further insight into the role physical inactivity plays in the development of chronic disease and premature death. We confirm that there is irrefutable evidence of the effectiveness of regular physical activity in the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression and osteoporosis) and premature death. We also reveal that the current Health Canada physical activity guidelines are sufficient to elicit health benefits, especially in previously sedentary people. There appears to be a linear relation between physical activity and health status, such that a further increase in physical activity and fitness will lead to additional improvements in health status.