Physical Activity

Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure. It includes movement performed during work, transportation, household activities, recreation, sport, and exercise. Physical activity therefore covers a broad range of movement, from everyday walking and chores to structured exercise and competitive sport .^1,2

Physical activity can be described according to characteristics such as its intensity, duration, frequency, and type. Intensity reflects how much effort an activity requires and is commonly described in categories such as light, moderate, or vigorous. Different activities can therefore contribute different amounts and intensities of physical activity .^1,2

Physical activity should not be confused with exercise. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and is performed to improve or maintain physical fitness. Many forms of physical activity, such as walking for transportation or performing household tasks, can therefore involve movement and energy expenditure without meeting the narrower definition of exercise .²

Physical activity is also distinct from physical fitness and physical inactivity. Physical fitness describes measurable attributes a person possesses, whereas physical activity describes behavior. Physical inactivity refers to an insufficient level of physical activity to meet specified recommendations. It is also not synonymous with sedentary behavior, which refers to low-energy waking behavior performed while sitting, reclining, or lying .^2,3