The Benefits of Physical Activity from Childhood to Adulthood

Dr. Matt Webster

The Benefits of Physical Activity from Childhood to Adulthood

I. Introduction

A. There are 35% of human beings in the world that are obese or overweight. In fact,

a study at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Columbia University, says

that obesity is the cause of 20% of deaths among women and 15% of men

B. Regular exercise as a child improves immunity, reduces stress, regulates body

weight, reduces heart problems and many other chronic diseases as you enter

adulthood.

II. Being physically active is the foundation to being physically and mentally fit, which

leads to a healthy and balanced life.

A. Physical Benefits of Exercising

1. When you exercise you increase physical activity and muscle cells respire

more than they do when the body is at rest. So, when a person is

exercising on a regular basis the blood is being pumped faster and the

lungs are becoming stronger which increase endurance. – (Jones, 2017)

2. Regular cardiovascular exercise, such as jogging supports the health of the

circulatory system and improves circulation. You can increase your mental

functions by going running as it boost blood flow to the brain and it helps

it receive oxygen and nutrients. (cosmopolitan.com)

3. A strength exercise is any activity that makes your muscles work harder

than usual. This increases our muscles strength, size, power, and

endurance. –(NAS.com)

B. Health Benefits of Exercising

Dr. Matt Webster

1. Weight loss is a major outcome of exercise, meaning when you exercise

you burn calories and body fat. One of the most popular ways to lose body

fat is aerobic exercise or what you may know as cardio. –

(Healthline/Nutrients.edu)

2. Children who are constantly exercising and being active are more likely to

have a healthier adulthood. Since children are less likely to develop

chronic diseases, being active as an adolescent helps prevent those

diseases from forming as an adult. – (Physical Activity Guidelines, Page

47)

3. Simple exercise such as just walking can increase life expectancy by

several years. Studies show that obese participants who did moderate

exercise for 150 minutes a week lived an average of 2.7 to 3.4 years

longer, than those who didn’t. – cite the source (Byline Manual,2012)

C. Psychological Benefits of Exercising

1. Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins, which are

chemicals in the brain that act as natural pain killers and also improve the

ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. - (adda.edu)

2. Regular exercise release brain chemicals key for memory, concentration

and mental sharpness. It helps maintain healthy blood pressure, and

weight, improves energy, lifts mood, lowers stress, and anxiety, and keeps

the heart healthy. – (Harvard University)

3. As a person begins to successfully achieve increasingly more demanding

physical task their self-confidence will rise. -(sharecare.com)

III. Conclusion

Dr. Matt Webster

A. Being physically active is the foundation to being physically and mentally fit,

which leads to a healthy and balanced life.

B. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous

sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at

night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about

themselves and their lives. And it’s also powerful medicine for many common

mental health challenges.

C. When you exercise, you feel better about yourself because you are fit or your

getting fit and you feel that you have accomplished something that was hard to

strive for. The benefits of physical activity is it gives you more energy, it helps

you in coping with stress, it improves self-image, and it increases resistance of

tiredness.

Dr. Matt Webster

References

Cowell, Hailey A. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and a Review of Scientific

Literature Used. Nova Science, 2011.

Gullotta, Thomas P., and Aleta L. Meyer. Physical Activity across the Lifespan: Prevention

and Treatment for Health and Well-Being. Springer, 2014.

King, Laura A. The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View. Mcgraw-Hill Education,

2017.