Fitness refers to your state of well-being, which can usually be altered—for better or for worse—through exercise, nutrition, and rest. A person who is fit can perform everyday activities, go to work, and even participate in some extracurricular sports and physical activities without worrying about barriers and restrictions. If you're not fit, you can improve your nutrition and exercise and get more rest to increase your fitness level. When you work to increase your level of fitness, you generally become healthier overall. You may lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk for cancer and other diseases, improve your immune system, improve your mental health, and control your body weight.‎

On Coursera, you'll find fitness and related courses designed to introduce the basics and help you expand on what you already know about exercise, nutrition, and the body, as well as how it all relates to good health. Courses can take you on a journey through the body and help you understand just how your actions impact your fitness. In a course about the science of exercise, for instance, you can learn how the body responds to exercise and how unique behaviors and environments impact fitness decisions. A food and health course can give you a look at the poor health choices that are changing the world and what we can do about them. Courses can help you build a career in fitness or improve your own health.‎

Careers in fitness and health span across many fields, ranging from retail to medicine. Personal trainers, athletic trainers, exercise instructors, massage therapists, nutritionists, and wellness coordinators are some of the most common. If you have a background in fitness, you may decide to open or manage a spa, gym, health club, or sports and fitness equipment store. Many healthcare careers also center around physical fitness, including physical therapists, medical assistants, sports physicians, and sports psychologists. Educators who teach biology, health, and related classes can also benefit from learning as much as possible about fitness.‎