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Physical and Functional Status Resources

Physical wellness is one of the cornerstones for achieving total wellness in any area of life. Studies suggest that physical activity and exercise can influence your quality of life. Learn ways to instill healthy habits — such as nutrition, activity, and smoking cessation — into your daily routine.

Videos

Benefits of exercise

What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory -- and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Why some find exercise harder

Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: our vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently -- and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.

Why dieting doesn’t usually work

In the US, 80% of girls have been on a diet by the time they're 10 years old. In this honest, raw talk, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt uses her personal story to frame an important lesson about how our brains manage our bodies, as she explores the science behind why dieting not only doesn't work, but is likely to do more harm than good. She suggests ideas for how to live a less diet-obsessed life, intuitively.

A simple way to break a bad habit

Can we break bad habits by being more curious about them? Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction -- from smoking to overeating to all those other things we do even though we know they're bad for us. Learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to smoke, snack or check a text while driving.

Quiz Yourself

My Life Check

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Live better with Life's Simple 7®.

Know your heart score.

Take the Quiz

Are you active enough?

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Is there enough physical activity in your life to promote good health? Take the quiz from the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Take the Quiz

Which fitness activity suits you?

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Take this quiz from Heart Matters magazine, the magazine of the British Heart Foundation, to find out which physical activity suits you.

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Heart Risk Calculator

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Calculate your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke using the ASCVD algorithm published in 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk.

Take the Quiz