Exercise is Medicine

The Benefits:

Regular physical activity can:

Decrease the risk of death by 40% in older men
Reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approx. 50%
Lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60%
Reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by approx. 40%
Reduce the incidence of heart disease and high blood pressure by approx. 40%
Lower the risk of stroke by 27%
Lower the risk of developing type II diabetes by 58%
Can decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioural therapy

It is better to be fit and overweight than unfit with a lower percentage of body fat:

A low level of fitness is a bigger risk for mortality than mild-moderate obesity.

Adults with better muscle strength have a 20% lower risk of mortality

And 33% lower risk of cancer specific mortality, than adults with low muscle strength

Regular physical activty in Kids and Adolescents:

Has been shown to lead to higher test scores
Can decrease discipline incidents involving violence by 59% and decrease out of school suspensions by 67%