My husband watches TV every evening and doesn’t do any exercise. I am worried about his health. How can I convince him of the benefits of physical activity?

Physical activity is one of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle, alongside a balanced diet. Physical activity is extremely beneficial even if there is little or no weight loss.

The main arguments for being physically active are:

• Physical activity reduces the risk of obesity. A decrease in the level of physical activity is a major factor in the increase of obesity.
• Physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease. People with an active lifestyle and a moderate level of fitness are half as likely to develop heart disease as their couch-potato peers. Obese people who are active have a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes compared to their obese counterparts who do not exercise.
• Physical activity reduces the risk of cancer. Moderate to vigorous physical activity reduces the risk of colon, colorectal, lung and breast cancers.
• Physical activity provides muscle and bone health. Regular exercise leads to stronger muscles, tendons and ligaments and more dense bones. Weight bearing exercise, such as running, roller blading and dancing, has been found to improve bone density in adolescents, help maintain bone density in adults and slow the loss of bone mass, known as osteoporosis, that commonly occurs with age.
• Physical activity improves mental heath. Several studies show that physical activity improves psychological well-being, the way in which we deal with stress and mental functioning, such as decision making, planning and short-term memory. Physical activity also reduces anxiety and promotes healthy sleep patterns. Evidence from clinical trials shows that exercise can be used to treat depression. For older people, physical activity may help to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.