Physical Activity

 

Physical Activity

Physical Activity (PA) is defined as any bodily movement produced by contraction of skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. It includes exercise as well as other activities which involve bodily movement and are done as part of playing, working, active transportation, house chores and recreational activities.

Exercise

Exercise is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful in the sense that the improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness is the objective.

Physical Inactivity

Physical Inactivity (PI) is described as doing no or very little physical activity at work, at home, for transport or during the discretionary time and not reaching physical activity guidelines deemed necessary to benefit public health (Bull et al 2004).

Sedentary behaviour

Sedentary behaviour refers to any walking activity characterised by an energy expenditure ≤ 1.5 metabolic equivalents and a sitting or reclining posture. In general, this means that any time a person is sitting or lying down, they are engaging in sedentary behaviour. Common sedentary behaviours include TV viewing, video game playing, computer use (collectively termed “screen time”), driving automobiles, and reading. Sedentary behaviour is distinct from physical inactivity. It is considered an independent predictor of metabolic risk even in instances where individuals engage in recommended levels of physical activity.