Ongoing studies have shown that as a person increases their energy expenditure in moderate intensity activity, death rate from all causes declines. In fact, inactivity is becoming a more important predictor of early death than other historic risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

A good way to start becoming more active is to just do it! It's not necessary to worry initially about training heart rates, frequency and duration. That can and will come with time. Just focus on your current activity level and then try to increase it. Using stairs instead of elevators and escalators, walking to the store instead of driving, or even walking your dog more often.