Benefits of physical activity in young people
Facing physical activity in young people is a challenge for teachers and educators. At this stage of life it is very important to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity, and that young people acquire healthy habits.
Sedentary lifestyle rates only increase year after year. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of young people do not perform enough physical exercise, at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity.
Physical activity in young people helps prevent diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, in adulthood. In addition, exercise has positive effects on mental and social health. Therefore, the benefits of physical activity in young people will be reviewed below.
Improve school performance
Many times it is wrongly conceived that physical education is a hobby and should be separated from other subjects. However, they can contribute many benefits that help the young man to perform better in the studies.
First, physical activity enhances cognitive processes by increasing oxygenation and creating new synapses between neurons. In a study published by the University of Granada, a positive relationship between levels of physical activity and academic performance was obtained.
Sport is more than a mere hobby. When young people perform physical activity they have to learn to make decisions, manage concentration and regulate their emotions, processes that are necessary to obtain good school performance.
Makes young people more resilient
One of the main characteristics of athletes is the great resilience they show. Athletes do not flee from challenges or difficulties, but they face them and learn how to be better.
In a study published by the University of Murcia it was found that people who practiced more physical activity obtained higher levels of resilience. Sport increases mental hardness since it teaches that you have to work very hard and never surrender to reach the top.
But resilience does not use it to face difficulties in sport, but that teaching can be applied to all areas of life.
Attenuates other harmful behaviors
In addition to the high sedentary lifestyle rates, the consumption of harmful substances, such as alcohol or tobacco, constitutes another public health problem that is necessary to stop.
Promoting physical activity in young people is an effective action to reduce these harmful behaviors. Many research, including a published in the magazine Nutrition Hospital, find a negative relationship between tobacco consumption and exercise practice.
This relationship means that the most active young people tend to smoke in less quantity, or even not to do it. They choose other healthier alternatives such as sport.
Increase self-efficacy and control sensation
self-efficacy are the beliefs that a person has regarding their ability to solve different situations. self-efficacy beliefs are key in the choice of tasks, the level of effort and persistence.
Physical exercise has a positive effect on the self-efficacy of adolescents. This is because when they verify that they are able to meet the sporting objectives themselves, their self-confidence increases.
The same goes for the feeling of control, thanks to physical activity they realize that the improvement process depends on themselves, it is their own actions that originate the change.
Physical activity in young people, an urgent matter
A question that is normal to ask is: knowing all the benefits that physical activity has in young people, how is it possible that sedentary lifestyle is so extended. The answer can be the lack of offer or motivation to be part of sports activities.
Promoting a wide range of sports and disciplines is easier for the teenager to find one that is attractive and motivated. In the end, no matter the type of exercise they do, the important thing is that they commit themselves to him.
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