Although it is widely accepted that active people are healthier, there is still much to be understood about the relationship between health and exercise. There are many questions to be explored such as 'how much?' and 'what type of activity?' Also, 'are there population differences?' and 'what prevents people from being active?' This text considers physical activity and health from a range of perspectives, encompassing many of the traditional academic disciplines, to provide a unique overview of this developing field.