Introduction to physical activity, fitness and well-being
What the examiner expects
The Introduction domain tests whether you can distinguish physical activity, exercise, fitness and well-being and apply activity guidelines to Indian school-age participants. Expect definitions, components of fitness, health benefits and sedentary-behaviour questions.
Core definitions
- Physical activity: any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that raises energy expenditure. It includes transport, housework, occupational and leisure activity.
- Exercise: planned, structured, repetitive movement done to improve or maintain fitness.
- Fitness: the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigour and without undue fatigue, with reserve for emergencies.
- Well-being: physical, mental, emotional and social health, not merely the absence of disease.
Components and guidelines
Health-related fitness: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. Skill-related fitness: speed, agility, power, balance, coordination and reaction time. WHO guidance for 5–17-year-olds is at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, plus muscle- and bone-strengthening activity at least three days a week. Adults need 150–300 minutes of moderate activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity weekly, plus two strengthening days.
Worked example
A 14-year-old cycles 20 minutes to school at a moderate pace, plays 40 minutes of football and does 15 minutes of yoga. Reasoning: cycling and football are moderate-to-vigorous and total 60 minutes, so the daily activity target is met that day. Yoga supports flexibility but is not vigorous; the weekly strengthening target still needs checking. The correct conclusion is 'met today, but the weekly strengthening requirement needs a planned programme'.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat physical activity and exercise as synonyms. Do not count only organised sport. Do not say fitness is only about muscles or body shape. Do not claim 60 minutes must be continuous; bouts can accumulate.