Physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Linked to other positive lifestyle choices, it promotes good physical health and contributes to people’s emotional and social wellbeing.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'.
Good physical health is linked to fitness – being able to perform effectively the physical tasks involved in life as well as sport. Being physically healthy includes:
Emotional – or mental – health is linked to personal wellbeing – feeling positive about yourself. Being emotionally healthy includes:
Social health also contributes to wellbeing – feeling positive about interactions with other people and the wider world. Being socially healthy includes:
Often feeling anxious and stressed is an indication of which type of poor health – physical, emotional or social?
Frequent anxiety and high levels of stress are indications of poor emotional health.