What does physical activity broadly encompass?

Physical activity broadly encompasses any movement of the body that requires energy expenditure. This definition includes a wide range of activities, not just structured exercise or sports workouts. It recognizes that all forms of movement contribute to overall physical activity levels, whether they are deliberate, like going for a run or doing yoga, or incidental, like walking to the store or performing household chores.

Focusing solely on exercises done in sports would limit the understanding of physical activity to competitive or high-intensity contexts, ignoring beneficial movements that occur in everyday life. Restricting the definition to only gym workouts neglects countless beneficial activities that fall outside traditional exercise settings. Similarly, classifying passive activities like meditation as physical activity overlooks the requirement for energy expenditure inherent in the broader definition. Thus, the correct understanding of physical activity involves recognizing and valuing all forms of movements that contribute to health and wellness.