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Welcome Visitor Physical ActivityBenefits of Physical Activity The health benefits of physical activity are at the forefront of most discussions of health professionals these days regarding obesity, heart disease, Type II diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Inactivity and poor nutrition cause at least 300,000 deaths each year in the United States, and obesity-related diseases cost the country more than $100 billion each year. Regular physical activity is associated with immediate and long-term health benefits, such as weight control, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and lower blood pressure. People once believed that only vigorous physical activity done for a designated time was the only physical activity with health benefits. Now, researchers have shown that 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily will greatly reduce the risks of heart disease, as well as other chronic diseases such as diabetes, colon cancer, and osteoporosis. Physical activity guidelines Guidelines for adults:
Guidelines for children:
-National Association for Sport and Physical Education How is physical activity different from physical fitness? You can probably remember physical fitness testing when you were in school – the mile run, as many sit ups as possible in one minute, and the impossible pull ups. For years, physical educators believed that students needed strenuous exercise and structured physical activity to push them to high levels of fitness (muscular strength and endurance, cardio respiratory endurance, flexibility) in order to be healthy. In the 1990’s, new research revealed that physical fitness testing often pushed students to failure and rather than encouraging physical activity, it was often times making students feel unsuccessful, unfit, and uninterested in pursuing physical activity in their leisure time. Now, things have changed. The emphasis on physical activity for all students regardless of ability level or limitations has demonstrated health benefits from moderate intensity levels of exercise. Healthy People 2010 helped turn the tide by encouraging daily physical activity, rather than focusing on fitness test scores – making physical activity choices that will carry on throughout a lifetime. Physical Activity in Children Children’s participation in physical activity has declined over the years. Almost ˝ of 12-21 year olds do not participate in physical activity on a regular basis (NASPE). A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control showed 61.5% of children ages 9-13 do not participate in an organized physical activity outside of school, and 22.6% do not participate in any free time physical activity. Parents’ perceived barriers to physical activity participation for these 9-13 year olds included transportation problems, lack of opportunities in their area, expense, parents’ lack of time, and concerns about neighborhood safety. Ways to Increase Physical Activity There are numerous ways to increase physical activity in your daily life. Of course, children can increase their physical activity levels by participating in sports or other physical activity as part of a team or group after school, unstructured play at home alone or with friends, physical education at school, family outings that involve physical activity, finding alternate activities to watching TV or playing computer games, as well as others. Opportunities are unique to each individual and family, according to environmental factors such as location, resources, etc. The best advice is for each family to decide what best fits their lifestyles, and plan physical activity opportunities as part of your every day schedules. Some tips for increasing your daily physical activity and for making physical activity more enjoyable can be found at 20 ways to….. Also, find brochures for parents, teachers, and principals that suggest ways to increase physical activity among youth at the Centers for Disease Control website. Using Pedometers One way to monitor the amount of physical activity you participate in each day is by wearing a pedometer, or step counter. Learn more about pedometers and how you can reach the 10,000 steps a day goal by clicking here! Physical Activity Links: The Importance of Physical Activity US Health and Human Services Reports the Benefits of Physical Activity
for Disease Prevention Benefits of Physical Activity TV Turnoff Network Links to information about Youth Sports for Parents The Connection between Physical Activity, Good Nutrition, and Academic Achievement |
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