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Benefits of Physical Activity:

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Regular physical activity helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles. It helps reduce the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer.  It reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being.It may help improve students’ academic performance, including

• Academic achievement and grades

• Academic behavior, such as time on task

• Factors that influence academic achievement, such as concentration and attentiveness in the classroom.

In order to attain physical fitness, one has to concentrate on and improve these five basic components of physical fitness:

1. Cardiovascular Endurance-The efficiency and capability of your heart to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues.

2. Muscular Strength-The amount of force or strength that your muscles can pick up and exert at a time.

3. Muscular Endurance-The ability of your muscle to undergo repeated contractions.

4. Body Composition- The ratio of body fat to body lean mass.

5. Flexibility- The ability of your muscles and joints to move through their full range of motion (Lund & Tannehill, 2010).

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Benefits of Physical Fitness:

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The immediate and long-term benefits of a concepts-based fitness education program are:

Enhanced Appearance - A fitness program can help detoxify your body and also tone your skin and body.

Improved immune system - A fitness program can help improve your immune system, helping safeguard your body from infections and diseases.

Self Confidence - A fitness program can improve appearance and make a person feel more confident.

Strengthen Bones - A fitness program that includes walking, jogging, and weight training can strengthen bones (Lund & Tannehill, 2010).

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Physical Fitness Facts:

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• Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.1

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 6–17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.2

• In 2011, 29% of high school students surveyed had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on all 7 days before the survey, and only 31% attended physical education class daily.3

• Schools can promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education.

• Schools should ensure that physical education is provided to all students in all grades and is taught by qualified teachers.

• Schools can also work with community organizations to provide out-of-school-time physical activity programs and share physical activity facilities.

• Physical Education, the only subject that makes your heart race!

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