What is true fitness?

      

 

True fitness is all about balance. It is about getting the right mix of energy in through the food and drink that we consume and the energy that we use in our everyday lives.

We need energy for everything that we do. From running around to using our brains and simply breathing. The amount of energy that a person needs depends upon a number of things including: our age, activity level, body size and gender. 
 

Young people between the ages of 11-18 often require high levels of energy due to the changes that their bodies are going through as they mature and the high activity levels that many people of this age-group have.
 

Athletes who are training regularly have high levels of physical activity and must make sure that they have enough energy to maintain their lifestyles.
 

What is important is that the amount of energy that we take in through our food and drink matches the energy that we expend in our daily lives. This is called being in energy balance:
 

                                                        ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT
 

Over time, it is important that we keep in energy balance because this is what determines whether we have a healthy weight and it helps to maintain our overall health.
 

When what we eat and drink provides more energy than is needed there is a risk of becoming overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of getting certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
 

When a diet does not provide enough energy you can lose weight and can risk being underweight. Being underweight is associated with health problems like osteoporosis (brittle bones), infertility and heart failure.