Regular physical activity practice has been recommended for the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases by different health care associations worldwide, such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, National Institute of Health, the US Surgeon General, the Brazilian Society of Cardiology and many others. Epidemiologic studies have shown a direct relation between lack of physical activity and the presence of multiple risk factors such as those found in the metabolic syndrome. The regular practice of physical exercise has been show to have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of blood hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Physical training therefore should be encouraged for both healthy individuals and those with multiple risk factors if they are capable of participating in a physical fitness program. Just as clinical therapy helps to maintain the function of organs, physical activity promotes favorable physiological adaptations that result in an improved quality of life.
Metabolic syndrome; Physical activity; Exercise
