physical fitness

health

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Health-related physical fitness is a dynamic state influenced by exercise habits, focusing on aspects of health. It encompasses skeletal muscle strength and endurance, joint flexibility, body composition, and cardiorespiratory endurance. These components are crucial for daily tasks, posture, and preventing issues like back pain. Maintaining a healthy body composition, with an appropriate ratio of fat to lean tissue, is linked to reducing risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Cardiorespiratory endurance, often called aerobic fitness, reflects the heart, lungs, and vascular system's capacity to supply oxygen and fuel for energy expenditure. Regular physical activity, defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles, is vital for improving overall fitness, enhancing well-being, and preventing chronic diseases.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

exercise
Types of physical fitness
Physical fitness is a general concept and is defined in many ways by different scientists. Physical fitness is discussed here in two major categories: health-related physical fitness and motor-performance physical fitness. Despite some overlap between these classifications, there are major differences, as described…
Read More
Physical fitness is a general concept and is defined in many ways by different scientists. Physical fitness is discussed here in two major categories: health-related physical fitness and motor-performance physical fitness. Despite some overlap between these classifications, there are major differences, as described…
Read More

human disease
Health versus disease
The term physical fitness, although frequently used, is also exceedingly difficult to define. In general it refers to the state of optimal maintenance of muscular strength, proper function of the internal organs, and youthful vigor. The champion athlete prepared to cope not only with the commonplace stresses…
Read More
The term physical fitness, although frequently used, is also exceedingly difficult to define. In general it refers to the state of optimal maintenance of muscular strength, proper function of the internal organs, and youthful vigor. The champion athlete prepared to cope not only with the commonplace stresses…
Read More

health
Moreover, physical condition and health are not synonymous terms. A seven-foot-tall basketball player may be in excellent physical condition (although outside the range of normality for height) but may or may not be in good health—depending, for example, on whether the individual has fallen victim to…
Read More
Moreover, physical condition and health are not synonymous terms. A seven-foot-tall basketball player may be in excellent physical condition (although outside the range of normality for height) but may or may not be in good health—depending, for example, on whether the individual has fallen victim to…
Read More