"Worldwide, we estimate that physical inactivity causes 6% (ranging from 3·2% in southeast Asia to 7·8% in the eastern Mediterranean region) of the burden of disease from coronary heart disease, 7% (3·9-9·6) of type 2 diabetes, 10% (5·6-14·1) of breast cancer, and 10% (5·7-13·8) of colon cancer. Inactivity causes 9% (range 5·1-12·5) of premature mortality, or more than 5·3 million of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008. If inactivity were not eliminated, but decreased instead by 10% or 25%, more than 533 000 and more than 1·3 million deaths, respectively, could be averted every year. We estimated that elimination of physical inactivity would increase the life expectancy of the world's population by 0·68 (range 0·41-0·95) years. "

"It's just gym, huh? Well think again. It's the only subject I know of that directly reduces a kid's long-term risk of heart failure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, several cancers, and obesity - and at the same time enhances fitness, cognitive function, self-esteem, teamwork, and overall good health. Like it or not, the truth is, if we keep cutting PE out of our schools and physical activity out of our lives, America's next generation will be dying at younger ages; losing its competitive edge; finding itself displaced on the world's stage; and bearing the physical, emotional, and financial burden of obesity and chronic disease for years to come."