Research Shows That Exercise Is a Form of Preventive Medicine

A June 2002 article issued through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation pointed to a 1993 study that stated that 14 percent of all deaths result from activity patterns and diet. Another study reported that 23 percent of deaths had their origins in sedentary lifestyles that lead to chronic disease. Fast forward almost 20 years to see that little has changed — 80 percent of adolescents do not engage in enough aerobic physical activity, and 80 percent of adults do not engage in aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises that meet guidelines established in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, according to data reported on the Healthy People.gov site in 2020.

However, for the 20 percent of Americans who regularly engage in some form of exercise, it holds significant preventive benefits. This issue is not specific to people living in the United States, as 25 percent of adults internationally do not meet global standards for physical activity. Furthermore, according to the same 2020 survey, five million deaths might be avoided each year if people simply were more active.

In general, physical activity may improve the quality of life of several people. Engaging in physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhances cognitive and learning skills, and promotes healthy growth and development in young people. More significantly, engaging in physical activities has positive outcomes for preventing non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancer.

In a 2018 blog post published by the Princeton Longevity Center, the author states that physical activity, including exercise, can be therapeutic in preventing hypertension, osteoporosis, and cognitive conditions. According to a 2014 Canadian study, exercise has a role in preventing or managing hypertension. The study reported that doing 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise four to seven days a week decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Exercise can also remedy osteoporosis, which makes bones more brittle and porous. Exercise can also improve bone health because it facilitates bone cell growth. Some of the recommended exercises to counteract osteoporosis are weight-bearing exercises, resistance exercises (which increase lean body mass), and jumping exercises.

Finally, exercise has positive impacts on both children and adults cognitively. In a 2008 research review, researchers reported that exercise could improve cognitive function (knowledge, reasoning, attention, and language skills) throughout a person’s lifetime. It provides positive outcomes related to academic performance in children.

So, what types of exercise provide the most benefits? A 2018 study found that walking can provide the participant with positive health impacts. The study assessed 140,000 people, with 6 to 7 percent of these people not participating in any vigorous or moderate form of physical activity at the start. The study found that those who participated in at least two hours of walking weekly reduced their risk of all-cause mortality by 20 percent.

In the elderly, Pilates has been proven to be an exercise with positive impacts. One 2021 study found that Pilates was more effective in preventing falls in this population than regular exercise because it helps the participant improve their balance.