Author(s): Lopes, Vitor P. ; Vasques, Catarina ; Ferreira, João V. ; Maia, José A.R.
Date: 2005
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/4020
Origin: Biblioteca Digital da UPB
Author(s): Lopes, Vitor P. ; Vasques, Catarina ; Ferreira, João V. ; Maia, José A.R.
Date: 2005
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/4020
Origin: Biblioteca Digital da UPB
There is a strong agreement that physical activity (PA) positively influences individual health status. Regular PAis an important factor along the whole life cyc1e to promote a healthy life style. In childhood and youth, the main effects of physical activity are on the promotion of habits and attitudes that are thought to be , carried out through the adult stage. In adulthood the benefits are of severaI leveIs, as documented in different epidemiological papers. PA is associated a) with longevity increase; b) with lower risks of cardiovascular diseases and c) with the decrease of some ofthe risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases, such as obesity and hypertension (Blair, 1993; Mackelvie et ai., 2001; Vuori, 2001; Westerterp & Goran, 1997; Williams, 2001).