Aerobics means, with oxygen, and aerobic fitness consists of physical exercise, strength training and stretching. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 30 minutes to 1 hour of moderately intense physical activity a day.

In addition to controlling body weight, aerobic activity has numerous health benefits.

Aerobic fitness can help to maintain good blood pressure levels, allows the heart to pump more effectively, decreases bad cholesterol while improving the good, and by reducing the systemic inflammation can lower the chance of having heart disease.

Another health benefit of aerobic exercise is that it helps to reduce the risk of developing diabetes by letting glucose metabolize in the body and allowing for a normal blood sugar level to be maintained. In patients with Type 2 diabetes, aerobics helps to improve the efficiency of the body by raising tissue sensitivity to insulin. Exercise produces more glucose to be pressed out of the blood stream and enter the cells, helping in the decreasing of glucose in the blood.

Obesity, which is a big concern in the United States is the first noticeable health benefit of exercise. Any amount of increased activity will bring about a change in the body, including a decrease in body fat and an increase in lean muscle.

Although exercise can help prevent many diseases, it can also be beneficial on a daily basis. Aerobic exercise improves the over all quality of life by releasing endorphins, which are happy hormones, into the blood. This improves mood and energy levels, reduces depression and fatigue, can eliminate the feelings of stress and anxiety.

In order to get the most benefits out of aerobic exercise, it is important to get the heart within target heart range. This is done by the calculated age method. Starting with the number 220, age is subtracted and that number is multiplied by 70 percent. Although this method is not totally accurate since people are at different levels of fitness ability, it does give a safe starting point. The American Heart Association recommends a range between 50 percent and 75 percent of maximum heart rate. Exercising at a target heart rate is the best way to get the most out of daily exercise and reap its benefits.

In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper developed a series of exercises listed in his book, Aerobics, that he knew would help to prevent coronary artery disease. These exercises were running, bicycling, swimming and walking.

Aerobic dance came about shortly after Dr. Coopers book was published, by a woman named Jackie Sorenson. She developed dance routines that were found to improve cardiovascular fitness.

In 1983, Howard and Karen Schwartz developed sportaerobics. In 1984 the first national aerobic championship was organized, and in 2002 the competition consisted of 6 athletes performing a 1 minute 45 second routine done to music. The judges based their score of up to 10 points each on artistic and technical merit. In 1996 sportaerobics was changed to gymnastique discipline.

Including aerobic activity into a daily routine, will lead to a longer, happier, and healthier life.