Enhances psychological well-being and may even reduce the risk of developing depression. In addition, children and adolescents need weight-bearing exercise for normal skeletal development, and young adults need such exercise to achieve and maintain peak bone mass. Older adults can improve and maintain strength and agility with regular physical activity. This can reduce the risk of falling, helping older adults maintain an independent living status. Regular physical activity also increases the ability of people with certain chronic, disabling conditions to perform activities of daily living.
Women generally are less active than men at all ages.
People with lower incomes and less education are typically not as physically active as those with higher incomes and education. African Americans and Hispanics are generally less physically active than whites. Adults in northeastern and southern States tend to be less active than adults in North-Central and Western States. People with disabilities are less physically active than people without disabilities. By age 75, one in three men and one in two women engage in no regular physical activity.