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Synonyms

Exercising; Movement; Performance; Physical activity; Physical exertion; Sports activities; Training; Workout

Definition

Exercise is a physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and performed in order to develop or maintain one or more components of physical fitness and overall health (Caspersen, Powell, & Christenson, 1985). Although both terms are related, each has a distinct meaning and should be used correctly. Thus, exercise should be distinguished from physical activity, a multifaceted concept that includes a complex set of behaviors, comprising exercise as a subcategory.

Description

Exercise Dimensions

Prolonged sedentary behavior, usually combined with unhealthy dietary habits, has been consistently identified as a major risk factor for many chronic diseases in people of all ages, both male and female. Thus, it has become increasingly evident that physical inactivity is a global health concern. Conversely, evidence supporting the healthbenefits of...

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Correspondence to Jorge Mota .

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Mota, J., Marques, E. (2014). Exercise. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_958

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_958

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0752-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0753-5

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