Table 8.1.

Main concepts and terms in the subject: exercise, sedentarism and health

Concepts and terms	Significance
Physical aptitude	Ability to perform activities and physical exercises expected for their age group, gender and body, which promote health, survival and adequate functionality in the environment in which they live. It is divided into aerobic and non-aerobic components (muscle strength/power, flexibility, balance and body composition).
Physical activity	Any body movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure.
Physical exercise	Structured and repetitive physical activity, for the purpose of maintaining or optimizing physical fitness, body aesthetics and health.
Sport	Physical exercises with variable energy demand, involving rules and competitions and aimed at individual or collective winning.
Sedentarism	It is a condition in which there is no regular exercise or frequent physical activity involving energy expenditure > 2 to 3 times that at rest, at work, personal transportation or leisure.
Exerciser	One who works out regularly.
Athlete	One who simultaneously meets the following criteria: a) training in sports to improve performance, b) actively participating in sports competitions, c) being formally registered in sports organizations, and d) having sports training and competition as their focus of interest or way of life.