The Ethics of Everyday Decisions - Exercise

You know what your doctor says about exercise. You probably echo those words when you look in the mirror. Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you know what the health benefits of regular exercise are.

What about the ethics of exercise? Is whether to exercise or not a moral issue? Ask yourself what your values are around the following statements. Whether you agree or disagree, how does your answer affect yourself or others? (One description of ethics is considering whether an action has a negative or positive effect on self or others.)

Exercise affects my mood and how I feel about myself
Exercise affects my self-image and therefore, how I feel and act around others
Exercise affects my ability to carry out my job duties
Exercise affects my ability to care for my loved ones
Exercise affects what and how much I eat
Exercise affects my use of health care resources
Exercise affects my sexual health
Exercise affects how I carry out my life purpose

These are just some of the ways to think about how exercise may have a negative or positive effect on yourself or others. It is a moral decision. How will you decide?

A Scriptural Perspective: "...but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27