Exercise benefits everyone. However, women can gain many health benefits by exercising. Exercising not only helps women lose weight, it can lower their risk of developing diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, respiratory ailments and more. Moderate exercise, when done consistently, can improve a woman’s overall well being. According to research, moderate exercise gives the immune system a boost.

Interestingly, women who do not exercise have a higher health risk than women who smoke. According to a study conducted jointly by the University of Hong Kong and Department of Health, 28% of women who do not exercise are likely to die from cancer. Results of the study also showed that about 75% of women who do not exercise have a higher risk of dying from respiratory ailments, and about 28% have a higher risk of dying from heart disease.

With these results, it should get women signing up for a gym membership and exercising. However, gym memberships can be expensive and time consuming. Likewise, buying home exercise equipment can be prohibitive for most women. Women can start exercising by going on brisk walks or by jogging on a regular basis. These are simple physical activities that only require a few minutes each day and no cash outlay. Women who want to lose weight should exercise at least 30 minutes every day. For best results, 60 minutes of exercise is recommended.

It is important that women wear the proper exercise attire. This includes wearing comfortable running or walking shoes. It is also important to start slowly. It can be more detrimental to jog or walk ten miles on the first day. It is best to start off any physical activity slowly and gradually increase the distance or intensity as endurance is built. Women can reap the health benefits of exercising by doing it consistently. It may be a good idea to find an exercise buddy to make exercising more enjoyable. Having someone to exercise with can also serve as motivation.

Women who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Studies have shown women who do weight and strength training have stronger bones and have a lower risk of developing osteoporosis. According to Dr. Barry A. Franklin, a physician at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, weight training also lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and improves cardiovascular health. Fitness experts recommend starting off with 2 to 5 pounds of light weight and doing a few repetitions, and then increasing the reps gradually.