1.Exercise curbs your risk of cancer, especially colon cancer and breast cancer.
2.Exercise creates new brain cells. Older adults who exercise are able to mentally perform as well as young adults.
3.Exercise boosts insulin sensitivity. This makes it possible for your body to process sugar better, which prevents type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
4.Sitting kills you. In a 12-year study, only 6% of the people who were on their feet during the day had died; 12% of the people who sat half the time had died; and 20% of the people who sat all the time had died.
5.Muscles make you stronger, and even more --you're never too old to build muscle.
6.Exercise reduces and/or prevents visceral (belly) fat, and people who don't exercise are more likely to increase visceral fat. Visceral fat is linked to insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease.
7.Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of stroke by 40%.
8.Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of heart attack by 30%-40%.
9.Strength training exercise increases bone density (or at least it slows down the rate of decrease) and it reduces the risk of broken bones by 40%.
10. Moderately active people have a 30% to 40% reduced risk of getting type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
11.Active people are 15% to 25% less likely to be diagnosed with depression.
12.Exercise 3-5 times per week lowers blood pressure by 2 to 5 points, which can save up to 27,600 lives per year.
13.Exercise increases the size, number and activity of mitochondria in your cells, and these are the cells that burn fat.
14.Moderate, low-impact exercise 3-5 times a week can reduce pain and disability due to arthritis.
15.Older people who are physically active have a 30% lower risk of falls.