Health and fitness

Many people believe that being healthy and being fit are one and the same. In reality, they can be separate states of physical being. You can be really fit, and not very healthy, and you can be very healthy and not very fit. The best benefits are found with trying to get a balance out of both sides. This requires us to identify the difference between health and fitness.

Health has been defined by the World Health Organisation as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. It includes ageing well, longevity, quality of life, freedom from pain etc. Fitness, on the other hand, is defined as a set of attributes that people have that relates to the ability to perform physical activity.

People who exercise regularly – whether taking part in competitive sports, attending fitness classes or working out on their own – are often presumed to be both fit and healthy. However, a gym goer who is a heavy smoker, drinks a lot, doesn’t get enough sleep, or struggles to manage stress, could be fit but not healthy. Also, if one of my clients tells me that they have neglected to eat properly, ignored the fat content of what they eat, and ate mostly processed foods, all the exercise in the world couldn’t possibly correct the damage done to their body from such a lifestyle Only sound nutrition can support good health. Of course, fitness can also support health and will improve your health if it is part of a way of life. Our health is mainly the result of thousands of daily nutritional decisions. So, health should be viewed as multi-factorial, meaning that multiple influences can alter one's state of health:

There are six components of ‘Total Fitness’ (health and well-being):

1. Physical: the ability to cope with the activity of daily living and the physical demands of leisure pursuits and sports.

2. Mental and emotional: emotional stability and respect for self and others. Thinking positively towards self, others, and the community.

3. Spiritual: belief systems that guide morals and values

4. Medical: the absence of disease and illness.

5. Nutritional eating a balanced diet to promote health.

6. Social: building friendships and having a feeling of belonging.

All these factors are inter-linked and naturally affect each other. It is important to look at the whole concept of health and fitness. This will include, promotion of daily physical activity, recreational activity, healthy eating and an appropriate balance of work, rest and recovery.