Exercise—What Is It Good For?
By Tony Lehn, M.S.
Lutheran General Fitness Center

Whether or not exercise can make a person live longer is a question of controversy. However, regardless of how old you are when you start, regular and consistent exercise will increase the quality of your life through several changes that occur in your body. Some of these changes are listed below:

• Reduction in blood pressure
• Increase in maximal oxygen uptake
• Reduction in total cholesterol
• Reduction in low-density lipoprotein
• Increase in high-density lipoprotein
• Reduction in total peripheral resistance
• Increase in insulin sensitivity
• Blunted hormonal response
• Reduction in fat weight
• Increase in cardiac efficiency
• Decrease in resting heart rate
• Decrease in systolic blood pressure
• Stimulation of bone growth
• Increase in vital capacity
• Increase in minute volume
• Increase in bone density
• Improved posture
• Fewer musculoskeletal injuries or problems
• Increase in strength
• Increase in range of motion
• Improved coordination
• Improved balance
• Quicker reflexes
• Increase in fat loss
• Improved fat and carbohydrate metabolism
• Increased fat metabolism
• Less stress and anxiety
• Less depression
• Improved outlook on life
• Improved self-esteem
• Increased ligament strength
• Better sleep

Adapted from Barry et al. 1993; Kligman and Pepin 1992