Fitness & exerciseGeneral wellnessWeight loss

5 reasons to work out that go beyond weight loss

Work up a sweat for these major health benefits.

Jan, 2026
LearnFitness5 reasons to work out that go beyond weight loss
Slide 1
It Can Make Sex More Enjoyable
You May Live Longer
You’ll Likely Sleep Better
It Can Help Keep Your Mind Sharp
It Could Help Stave Off Illness

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Slide 1

Want to get stronger, manage your weight, and boost your energy levels? Regular workout sessions can help accomplish all of those things. 

But there are other reasons why exercise deserves a spot on your schedule that have nothing to do with weight management—and they could boost your quality of life. Learn about more major payoffs from your workouts.

Written byAna Lopez.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.July, 2025
Sources: Fergus KB + 25
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  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why Should People Be Active? Page last reviewed July 14, 2022.
  7. Carlson SA, Adams EK, Yang Z, et al. Percentage of Deaths Associated With Inadequate Physical Activity in the United States. Prev Chronic Dis. 2018 Mar 29;15:E38.
  8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. 2019.
  9. Lee DH, Rezende LFM, Joh HK, et al. Long-Term Leisure-Time Physical Activity Intensity and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort of US Adults. Circulation. 2022 Aug 16;146(7):523-534.
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measuring Physical Activity Intensity. Page last reviewed June 3, 2022.
  11. Kakinami L, O'Loughlin EK, Brunet J, et al. Associations between physical activity and sedentary behavior with sleep quality and quantity in young adults. Sleep Health. 2017 Feb;3(1):56-61.
  12. Bodziony V, Stetson B. Associations between sleep, physical activity, and emotional well-being in emerging young adults: Implications for college wellness program development. J Am Coll Health. 2022 May 12:1-11.
  13. Jurado-Fasoli L, De-la-O A, Molina-Hidalgo C, et al. Exercise training improves sleep quality: A randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Invest. 2020 Mar;50(3):e13202.
  14. Hasan F, Tu YK, Lin CM, et al. Comparative efficacy of exercise regimens on sleep quality in older adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2022 Oct;65:101673.
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  16. Ivy CC, Lockmiller MC, McKay M, et al. The impact of exercise on sleep in people with Parkinson's disease a scoping review. J Clin Neurosci. 2021 Apr;86:223-229.
  17. Alarcón-Gómez J, Chulvi-Medrano I, Martin-Rivera F, et al. Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, Exercise Motivation and Enjoyment in Sedentary People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 30;18(23):12612.
  18. Stutz J, Eiholzer R, Spengler CM. Effects of Evening Exercise on Sleep in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2019 Feb;49(2):269-287.
  19. Kovacevic A, Fenesi B, Paolucci E, et al. The effects of aerobic exercise intensity on memory in older adults. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2020 Jun;45(6):591-600.
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