Physical Activity Participation and Fitness - Essay Example

Physical Activity Participation and Fitness Historically, physical activity and fitness have been positively associated with healthy living. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is rated fourth to be one of the leading causes of increased mortality worldwide (Nunan et al., 2013). Regular physical activity promotes longevity, reduce the risks of many diseases, and facilitate high level of psychological wellness (Grzywacz and Marks 2001, p.202). Researches show that many people believe that physical activity is good for health and that even the slightest physical exercise promotes people’s health (Ainsworth and Macera 2012, p.1). Being active physically ensures individuals a healthy living and well-being since physical activity benefits various body parts such as heart, bone, immune system among others (Hancock 2011, p.4) and this indeed confirms the relationship between physical activity and human health and well-being. Physical activity involves the amount of body movement and energy expenditure (Bouchard, Blair and Haskell 2007, p.282) and this physical exercise helps in improving people’s health by controlling weight, building and strengthening bones and muscles, and promoting psychological well-being. This paper presents a very thoughtful discussion about the relationship between physical activity and individual’s health, conditions associated with physical inactivity, and the use of physical activity in treating hypo kinetic diseases and other impacts on public health. Arguably, regular physical exercise reduces blood pressure, minimizes cholesterol level, control body weight among others. People who are inactive are capable of becoming active and improve their health and well-being through regular exercise since even the slightest physical exercise has benefits on individual’s life. Regular physical activity boost individual’s health condition since it reduces the risk of developing fatal illness such as heart disease. Studies reveal that people participating in regular physical activities have lower death rates as opposed to those who are not physically active. However, lack of physical activity participation risk individuals’ lives as they exposed to heart diseases like high blood pressure due to high cholesterol level. Moreover, people suffering from heart diseases but are physically fit live longer and experience fewer heart attack. Increased participation in physical activities has additional benefits on an individual’s health. The main objectives of physical activity and health include, minimizing the risk factors for chronic diseases that result from unhealthy diet and physical inactivity; create and promote awareness about the influence of diet and physical activity on people’s health; and to improve diets and encourage individuals to participate in physical activities (Dishman, Heath and Lee 2013, p.10). Indeed, physical activity in individuals’ lives enhances their health, well-being as well as their lifespan (Ainsworth and Macera 2012, p.21). There are reduced cases of morality among those who are physically active (Hancock 2011, p.4). Some of the medical conditions that can be reduced by regular engagement in physical activities include coronary heart disease, obesity, essential hypertension, and cognitive impairments among others (Ainsworth and Macera 2012, p.22). Physical activity and fitness have a lot of impact on people’s lives. Physical activity does more that improving their performance, that is, it has many other benefits that improve individuals’ physical and psychological health (Sharkey 2002, p.9). people’s participation in physical activities enable them to burn calories and reduce the risk of many diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancers, improve the function of their immune system, and reduce the likeliness of having unnecessary back pains. Accordingly, psychological benefits associated with physical activity and fitness includes diminished depression, reduced stress, and improved self-concept among others (Sharkey 2002, p.9). Physical activity causes long-term benefits on psychological well-being (Society for the Study of Human Biology and Norgan 1992, p.5). Moreover, some of the cognitive benefits resulting from physical activity participation are improved memory and increased attention (Sharkey 2002, p.9). Mental health is very important in promoting individual’s well-being; therefore, participating in physical activity enables people cope up with stress and other psychological conditions (Society for the Study of Human Biology and Norgan 1992, p.5). In most cases, people fail to engage in physical activities due to lack of time, lack of energy and motivation, adverse weather condition, and fear of being injured (Kotecki 2011, p.13). Therefore, people are advised to monitor their daily activities and create some time for excising, and they have to believe that engaging in physical activity will increase their level (Kotecki 2011, p.13). Normally, adults should dedicate at least 30 minutes daily to engage in aerobic physical activity, however, for additional health benefits, increasing physical activity participation is necessary (Sharkey 2002, p.10). Studies show that environment contributed to reduction of physical activity participation and increases cases of obesity especially among the adolescents (Dagkas and Stathi 2007, p.370). Therefore, it is undoubtedly true that regular exercise benefits people with heart diseases as compared to those who do not participate in any physical activity. To enhance and maintain good health, individuals particularly adults should remain physically active and avoid inactive lifestyle (Hancock 2011, p.8). Furthermore, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for high mortality rate globally (Hancock 2011, p.4). Studies reveal that physical inactivity causes about 6 per cent deaths worldwide with around 3.2 million deaths daily (Hancock 2011, p.4). The current physical activity guideline in the UK requires adults to take at least 150 minutes weekly to engage in intense physical activity but despite the benefits of physical activities, majority do not comply with this suggestion (Murphy et al., 2013). Some of the diseases associated with physical inactivity in UK include heart disease, colon cancer, and ischaemic stroke among others. Physical inactivity accelerates cases of heart diseases (Sharkey 2002, p.19). More so, physical inactivity has been associated with many hypo kinetic diseases such as obesity, heart diseases among others. Lack of physical activity participation has led to increased cases of obesity globally especially among children. This is a result of continuous consumption of food with high cholesterol without engaging in any form of physical activity. In addition, they involve in playing video games, watch televisions but they do not engage in cycling regularly. Performing domestic tasks serves as part of physical activities in UK (Murphy et al., 2013), therefore, women doing house chores are physically active. Social inequalities have impacts on individuals’ physical activity participation and there is a relationship between socioeconomic and physical activity especially in the United Kingdom (Hancock 2011, p.9). Physical activity patterns vary between diverse socioeconomic groups in that, there are some people who cannot even access space to carry out their physical exercises. Creation of space for cycling, walking and performing other physical activities is necessary. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status participate in physical activities less regularly (Grzywacz and Marks 2001, p.203). Furthermore, socioeconomic is linked with the health behaviours in that, people with lower socioeconomic status engage in fewer health behaviours such as exercising (Grzywacz and Marks 2001, p.204). In the United Kingdom, most people believe in the link between physical activity and health but many people do not achieve the required amount of physical activity participation (Hancock 2011, p.11). Physical activity also depends on individuals’ age, for instance, the elderly people have reduced physical activity participation making their lives to be prone to diseases. More so, inactivity promotes dependency among the older people (Society for the Study of Human Biology and Norgan 1992, p.4). Moreover, social class has been noted to influence adolescents’ participation in different physical activities (Dagkas and Stathi 2007, p.371). Many adults suffer from hypo kinetic diseases globally, this condition is associated with physical inactivity, and examples include heart disease, obesity and back pain among others. High blood pressure, coronary artery disease as well as stroke kill many people annually. However, active individuals are less like to die from these diseases as opposed to inactive people suffering from the same disease. Physical activity is used treat hypo kinetic diseases and it has many other important impacts on public health. Many researches reveal that physical activity and fitness can help in preventing some diseases. For instance, the risk of hypo kinetic condition can greatly be reduced among those individuals who participate in different physical activities regularly and live active lifestyles. The fatal chronic diseases, which affect many people in the society, are considered hypo kinetic. Chronic diseases lead to increased death rates in the society. Regular engagement in physical activity has been proposed to help in directly reducing the risk of major chronic diseases (Steven et al, 2007). In addition, physical activity and illness can be a very good prevention mechanism of many hypo kinetic diseases. Participating in physical activities regularly and good physical fitness helps in elimination some symptoms especially after hypo kinetic illness such as heart attack, diabetes, and back pain among others. Cases of hypo kinetic condition in our society cannot be reduced without any consideration of changing lifestyle across all ages especially by increasing physical activity participation. Moreover, physical activity and fitness helps in promoting healthy living and well-being since they relates with individuals wellness and good health. Additionally, regular physical activity participation and physical fitness are the leading preventative factors related to the condition of hypo kinetic diseases and physical activity creates a shortcut of how to control chronic diseases. Therefore, long-term adherence to physical activity really assists in overcoming many other risk factors, allowing individuals to live a healthy living. In conclusion, physical activity and fitness are major determinants of good health. Regular engagement in physical activity has been associated with a healthy living. Furthermore, physical activity assist in reducing risk of suffering from many diseases such as heart diseases, obesity due to inability to burn excess cholesterol in the body. More so, physical activity increases longevity and many people believe that physical activity participation is necessary because it is good for health. On the contrary, physical inactivity is associated with many hypo kinetic diseases such as heart diseases, obesity, back pains and many others. People suffering from these diseases but are physically active live longer as compared to those who are not physically active and fit. Fortunately, physical activity participation serves as a preventative mechanism because regular physical activity helps in treating and preventing hypo kinetic diseases. References Ainsworth, B. and Macera, C., 2012, Physical Activity and Public Health Practice, Florida: CRC Press. The burden of physical activity‐related ill health in the UK Bouchard, C., Blair, S, and Haskell, W, 2007. Physical Activity and Health, 2E. Illinois: Human Kinetics. Dagkas, S. and Stathi, A, 2007, Exploring Social and Environmental Factors Affecting Adolescents' Participation in Physical Activity, European Physical Education Review; 13; 369, doi: 10.1177/1356336X07081800. Dishman, R. K., Heath, G., & Lee, I.-M 2013, Physical activity epidemiology, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Grzywacz, J, and Marks, N, 2001, Social Inequality and Exercise during Adulthood: Toward an Ecological Perspective, Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, Vol.42: 202-220. Hancock, C, 2011, Review: The Benefits Of Physical Activity For Health And Well-Being. London: C3 collaborating for health. Kotecki, J. E 2011, Activities & Assessment Manual, Sudbury, Mass, Jones & Bartlett Learning, Murphy, M, Donnelly, P., Breslin, G., Shibli, S. and Nevill, A, 2013, Does Doing Housework Keep You Healthy? The Contribution of Domestic Physical Activity to Meeting Current Recommendations for Health, BMC Public Health, 13:966  doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-966. Nunan, D, Mahtani, K., Roberts, N. and Heneghan, C, 2013, Physical Activity for the Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews, Systematic Reviews 2013, 2:56, doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-56. Sharkey, B. J 2002, Fitness and health, Champaign, Ill: Human kinetics. Society for the Study of Human Biology, & Norgan, N. G. 1992, Physical activity and health: 34th Symposium volume of the Society for the Study of Human Biology, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Steven, A, Foster, C, Scarborough. and Rayner, M., 2007, The Burden of Physical Activity-Related Ill in UK. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health; 61(4): 344–348, doi:  10.1136/jech.2006.050807. The burden of physical activity‐related ill health in the UK The burden of physical activity‐related ill health in the UK The burden of physical activity‐related ill health in the UK Read More