Physical Activity and Young People

Each day school-aged youth should accumulate
at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity to ensure healthy development. This can provide young people with important physical, mental and social health benefits.

Benefits of Physical Activity for Young People

Appropriate practice of physical activity assists young people to:

• develop healthy musculoskeletal tissues (i.e. bones, muscles and joints);
• develop a healthy cardiovascular system (i.e. heart and lungs);
• develop neuromuscular awareness (i.e. coordination and movement control);
• maintain a healthy body weight.

Physical activity has also been associated with psychological benefits in young people by improving their control over anxiety and depression. Similarly, participation in physical activity can assist in the social development of young people by providing opportunities for self-expression, building self-confidence, social interaction and integration. It has also been suggested that physically active young people more readily adopt other healthy behaviours (e.g. avoidance of tobacco, alcohol and drug use) and demonstrate higher academic performance at school.

Global decrease in Physical Activity in young people

Despite this, physical activity levels are decreasing among young people in countries around the world, especially in poor urban areas. It is estimated that less than one-third of young people are sufficiently active to benefit their present and future health and well-being.

This decline is largely due to increasingly common sedentary ways of life. For example fewer children walk or cycle to school and excessive time is devoted to watching television, playing computer games and other sedentary activities - often at the expense of time and opportunities for physical activity and sports. Physical education and other school-based physical activities have also been decreasing.

Many factors hinder the participation of young people in physical activity:

• lack of time
• poor motivation
• inadequate support and guidance
• feelings of embarrassment or incompetence
• lack of safe facilities
• limited accessibility to physical activity facilities
• ignorance of the benefits of physical activity.

Opportunites for young people to become physically active

Schools present unique opportunities to provide time, facilities and guidance for young people to participate in physical activity. In most countries, through physical education programmes, schools offer the only systematic opportunity for young people to take part in and learn about physical activity. School physical education classes can assist young people to "Move for Health" by providing them with opportunities and time to safely access physical activity facilities in an environment that is supported by teachers, parents and friends.

Importantly, when patterns of physical activity and healthy lifestyles are acquired during childhood and adolescence they are more likely to be maintained throughout the life-span. Consequently, improving physical activity levels in young people is imperative for the future health of all populations.

Information about "Move for Health"

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