Physical exercise is performed for various reasons, including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, and merely enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system and helps prevent the "diseases of affluence" such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It may also help prevent depression, help to promote or maintain positive self-esteem, improve mental health generally, and can augment an individual's sex appeal or body image, which has been found to be linked with higher levels of self-esteem. Childhood obesity is a growing global concern, and physical exercise may help decrease some of the effects of childhood and adult obesity. Health care providers often call exercise the "miracle" or "wonder" drug—alluding to the wide variety of proven benefits that it can provide.
With use, muscles consume energy derived from both fat and glycogen. Due to the large size of leg muscles, walking, running, and cycling are the most effective means of exercise to reduce body fat.
Failure of the ovaries to release an oocyte over a period of time generally exceeding 3 months.
A condition when immune system mistakenly attacks some of the standard proteins in blood.
A class of sexual disorders defined as the subjective lack of normal ejaculation.
A state in which pieces of the tissue alike to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow in other parts of the body.
The inability (that lasts more than 6 months) to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual activity.
An abnormal condition in a woman's menstrual cycle.
A disease of excess body fat that can have a negative effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and other health problems.
A condition in which a woman has an imbalance of female sex hormones. This may lead to changes in the menstrual cycle, cysts in the ovaries, trouble g
The most common benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus encountered in women of reproductive age.