Watching what you eat, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight are all important to ensuring a high functioning body. Positive physical health habits can help decrease your stress, lower your risk of disease, and increase your energy.
The following strategies may help you improve your physical health:
n Get active — Every minute counts when it comes to movement. Sedentary behavior has been linked to many medical problems. Experts recommend adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.
n Maintain your muscle — Building muscle helps you keep up the activities you enjoy at any stage of your life. Some types of strength training keep your bones healthy. Experts recommend strength training activities for all the major muscle groups two or more days a week for adults.
n Find a healthy weight — Take charge of your weight and your health. Keeping your body at a healthy weight may help you lower your risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer that can result from carrying excess weight or being obese.
n Eat healthy — When it comes to deciding what to eat, it can be a lot easier than you might think to make smart choices. A healthy eating plan not only limits unhealthy foods but also includes a variety of healthy foods. Find out which foods to add to your diet and which to avoid.
For more information about improving your physical health, go to nih.gov/health-information/physical-wellness-toolkit.
— Benefits and Wellness,
Human Resources, 4-17-25
