Ancient physicians understood the significance of exercise for health: for example, Hippocrates (c460–c370 BC) stated that "food alone would not keep a man well; he must also take exercise." Furthermore, Hippocrates regarded exercise as a form of medicine, and he was the first physician to issue a complete written exercise prescription. Herophilus (c335–c280 BC) shared this belief, believing that exercise and a nutritious diet were essential for keeping a healthy body and mind. This notion has been articulated and explained countless times over the years. However, only lately have scientists begun to comprehend the cellular and molecular roots of a sedentary lifestyle's negative health impacts, as well as the reasons why physical activity (PA) can serve as a medication to counteract these effects.
