The pressures of home and family life can also mean it feels as if there's little time left to fit in exercise. It's certainly tough to get started. So, it's worth thinking about what you gain from regular exercise and making even a partial improvement to your fitness.
Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease - in other words, if you don't exercise you dramatically increase your risk of dying from a heart attack
Conversely, exercise means a healthier heart because it reduces several cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure
Being physically active can bolster good mental health and help you to manage stress, anxiety and even depression
Regular exercise as you age keeps you strong, mobile and less dependent on others
Regular exercise can help you achieve and maintain an ideal weight, which can be important in managing many health conditions, or may just make you feel happier about your appearance
All exercise helps strengthen bones and muscles to some degree, but weight-bearing exercise, such as running, is especially good in promoting bone density and protecting against osteoporosis, which affects men as well as women
Different exercises help with all sorts of health niggles, such as digestion, poor posture and sleeplessness, and physical activity can be beneficial for a range of medical conditions, from diabetes to lower back pain

BBC Health