Fitness

Fitness is a state of health and well-being that enables comfortable functioning in daily activities and the ability to respond to physical challenges. It encompasses both health-related and performance-related aspects, including endurance, strength, flexibility, and body composition. Fitness is influenced by genetics, behavior, environment, and access to resources, and it can be improved through regular physical activity and structured training.

Health-related fitness includes cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Cardiorespiratory fitness reflects the efficiency of the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Muscular strength is the ability to exert force, muscular endurance is the ability to sustain repeated contractions. Flexibility refers to joint range of motion, while body composition describes the proportion of fat and lean tissue.

People improve fitness through a combination of aerobic exercise, resistance training, flexibility work, and neuromotor activities such as balance and coordination drills. The FITT principle—frequency, intensity, time, and type—guides program design and should be adjusted to the individual’s goals and current fitness level. Progression, proper technique, warm-up, hydration, and rest are important to reduce injury risk.

Regular physical activity and fitness training reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve metabolic health, support weight management, and contribute to mental health and cognitive function. Fitness can be monitored with tests and measurements such as aerobic capacity, strength tests, and body composition estimates, while subjective indicators include perceived exertion and functional ability. Fitness is relevant to people of all ages, from children to older adults, and programs should be tailored to individual needs and safety considerations.