Management of some medical conditions, such as diabetes, also can be achieved through exercise. Cathy Mullooly, M.S., C.D.E., director of exercise physiology at Joslin Clinic, says, "Exercise helps overcome insulin resistance and has both short- and long-term positive effects on blood sugars. Those who incorporate exercise into their treatment plan are far more successful at managing their blood sugars." Regular exercise and an active lifestyle also have been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Every time the heart pumps a little faster, blood flows a little faster and muscles stretch a little further, health improves. "With movement, comes benefit," Mullooly says. "By starting slowly, taking pride in successes, scheduling exercise into the day and remembering to include good nutrition in their overall plan, most people can develop a program that works for them."

Scott Taylor, P.T., clinical supervisor for the CareGroup Occupational Health Network at New England Baptist Hospital and the Occupational Health Center of Waltham, says, "We all place physical demands on our bodies every day. A strong heart and flexible muscles keep the body working at optimum capacity."

Because women cannot actually feel their bones becoming thinner, they usually are unaware of bone loss until a fracture leads to a diagnosis of osteoporosis. A condition in which bone mass is lost and bones become brittle, osteoporosis causes more than 1.3 million fractures in this country annually. This condition, which is far more common in women than men, generally develops after menopause. Women at risk include those with a family history of the disease, women of Caucasian or Asian descent and those who have a small body frame. Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D, limiting alcohol, not smoking and incorporating weight-bearing exercise into the daily routine help develop and maintain healthy bones. Post-menopausal women also should discuss bone density testing and the risks and benefits of bone-strengthening medications with their physicians.