Benefits of Physical Activity
1) It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2) It helps to fight against obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
3) It helps to maintain a healthy weight.
4) Helps in managing stress and anxiety, which we all know can lead to many mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
5) It improves lung function and bone density.
6) It boosts energy levels.
7) Physical activity helps to keep the body flexible and maintain a large range of motion in muscles and joints, which plays a main role in the quality of life as we get older.
8) It reduces arthritis symptoms such as pain and inflammation.
9) It improves sleep patterns by releasing endorphins, which are our feel-good chemicals. They help us relax and provide a sedative effect that will promote a good night’s rest!
10) Physical activity can lead to improved self-esteem, confidence, positive body image, and better relationships with others. Consistent exercise over time has been linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety too!
Scientific Benefits of exercise:
1. cancer:
one study found that exercise reduces the risk of colon cancer by 50 percent.
2. Heart disease and stroke:
regular aerobic exercise can reduce artery blockage and significantly improve blood flow to your heart and brain by increasing good cholesterol levels while reducing triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels.
Studies show that aerobic exercise can reduce high blood pressure as well as the frequency and intensity of angina attacks in people with coronary artery disease. Exercise also helps lower resting heart rate, which may decrease strain on your heart during periods of increased activity, such as climbing stairs or taking a walk around the mall before shopping.
3. Diabetes Mellitus:
physical inactivity is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance, which can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise helps increase your sensitivity to insulin, control blood glucose levels, and burn excess body fat, thereby reducing your risk of developing diabetes
4. osteoarthritis:
research shows that low-impact exercises such as walking can decrease pain associated with arthritis, especially when the disease affects the knees.
5. hypokinetic diseases:
a combination of aerobic exercise and weight training is even more effective for treating hypokinetic diseases. Aerobic activities improve cardiovascular fitness by increasing heart rate and breathing capacity while strengthening the heart muscle itself; examples include running or swimming laps.
When muscles are challenged through strength training movements—for example, lifting weights or using other resistance devices—they respond by building muscle, which helps to counter the loss of muscle that often occurs with age.
6. mental health:
physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that have a positive effect on mood and helps the body cope with the day-to-day stress of life.
7. weight control:
for overweight people, a regular program of aerobic exercise is an important tool in successful long-term weight loss.
8. osteoporosis:
Regular aerobic exercise (especially resistance training) increases muscle strength and mass, which helps maintain bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis or related fractures by approximately 50 percent.
9. sleep disorders:
people who are regularly physically active tend to get better quality sleep compared to those who are inactive; however, too much exercise (overtraining) can cause sleeping disorders such as insomnia.
10. flexibility:
regular physical activity causes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support joints to stretch and become longer. As a result, you can move your body more easily especially important for older adults whose overall fitness level may be declining and are less likely to hurt yourself when you fall.
Mental benefits of physical activity:
Cognitive improvement:
physical activity has a positive effect on cognitive function and can enhance mental abilities such as concentration, memory, verbal reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical ability.
Depression:
physical activity may reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
Adolescence’s self-esteem:
it is well known that exercise improves body image in adolescents; however, less understood is its effects on self-esteem during this stage of development.
Stress management:
to handle daily stress effectively, people need an outlet (for instance, sports or aerobic activities), which allows them to relax both mentally and physically; according to the results of one study, participants who exercised regularly reported less psychological distress and greater well-being.
The cognitive decline during aging:
some research suggests that physical activity can reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by improving circulation, especially to the brain.
Schizophrenia:
a link has been established between regular exercise and a lower prevalence of schizophrenia among adolescents.
Psychosis:
a psychological disorder involving a loss of contact with reality, such as delusions or hallucinations aerobic exercise may help treat these conditions.
Psychosocial effects:
there is evidence that physical activity can improve social relationships in older adults by combating depression, loneliness, and isolation; moreover, regular participation in sports groups brings many benefits for mental health.
Social benefits of physical activity:
social skills:
adolescents who are physically active tend to be more popular and to have better relationships with their peers; in addition, many sports require the development of communication skills.
Mental health:
physical activity has been associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression; moreover, it may benefit people suffering from schizophrenia or psychosis.
Obesity:
a common side effect of poverty is that children do not have access to safe play areas or healthy food choices factors that were found by one study to contribute significantly to childhood obesity. A lack of exercise among poor children was also considered a factor in increasing the rate of obesity.
Social integration:
Regular physical activity helps decrease the risk of loneliness and social isolation by encouraging participation in group activities. People who frequently attend group sports or exercise sessions—or, alternatively, those who pursue more active lifestyles—are also at a lower risk for these problems.
Disadvantage:
poor children who lack access to safe play areas or healthy food choices are more likely to be obese than those whose families have greater resources; on the other hand, regular physical activity reduces the prevalence of obesity among all socioeconomic groups.
violence:
research suggests that physical activity programs can help improve children’s behavior and reduce bullying and disruptive classroom behavior as well as aggression toward peers and teachers.
Emotional health:
some evidence shows that physical activity may be effective in treating depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric problems.
Self-esteem:
children from lower socioeconomic groups tend to have lower self-esteem than those who are more advantaged; moreover, a lack of access to safe play areas or healthy food choices is a factor that contributes significantly to childhood obesity.
Sport or exercise programs can help improve a child’s self-esteem by teaching them valuable social skills and by instilling a sense of accomplishment via success at sports competitions.