Physical Activity and Fitness Movement

Physical Activity and Fitness

People of all ages can benefit from physical activityPeople can improve their health by engaging in a moderate amount of physical activity on regular basis.Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the amount of physical activity, through changing the duration, frequency or intensity of effort.

Moderate physical activity is defined as physical activity that results in an energy expenditure of 150 calories a day or 1000 calories per week. Walking for 30 min , swimming laps for 20 min. or wheeling oneself in a wheel chair for 30 40 minutes will satisfy the requirement for moderate physical activity these reduce unnecessary illness and premature death.It is estimated (in USA) that poor diet and lack of activity together account for at least 300,000 deaths per year!The emphasis of moderate physical activity and the focus of integration of physical activity for ones lifestyle is an additional help for individuals to improve their health, enjoy life and live meaningfully.

The Benefits of a Regular Physical ActivityHelps control weightHelps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and jointsPromotes psychological well being.Reduces:The risk of dying prematurelyThe risk of dying from heart diseasesThe risk of developing diabetesThe risk of developing high blood pressureThe risk of developing cancerFeelings of depression and anxiety.

FITNESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR youth and children

Two comprehensive studies of childrens and youths fitness undertaken in the mid 1980s substantiate the need of concern.These studies were conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Service Office for Disease Prevention.These studies emphasized health related fitness and test items to assess the participant's current health status. The test items included the following:Determination of percent of body fat.Assessment on lower back flexibility and abdominal strength through sit and reach and sit up test. Chin ups or modified pull-ups to measure upper body strength.

The 1985 National Children and Youth Fitness Study (NCYFS) was designed to elicit about information regarding the health and fitness of youths aged 10 17 as well as their physical activity habits. A total of 8500 boys and girls completed the five item fitness test (bent-knee sit ups, 1 mile walk, run, sit and reach, and skin fold thickness) and a self support questionnaire on physical activities to assess health related fitness.There was a significant increase in percent body fat, another concern was the poor performance of the youths on cardiorespiratory measurement (the 1 mile run/walk) Many children completed the distance at a slow jog, with girls taking more time completing compared to boys.

The 1996 Surgeon Report on Physical Activity and Health reached the following conclusion:Only of young people ages 12-21 regularly participate in vigorous physical activity.Approximately of young people engage in light to moderate physical activity, that is walking or biking everyday.About 14% are inactive, no vigorous physical activity.Males are most likely than females to engage in strengthening activities and vigorous physical activities.Participation on physical activities remarkably decline as age or school increases.From 1991 to 1995, the number of students enrolled in daily physical education decreased from 42% to 25%.Within physical education class, the number of students who reported being active for at least 20 min. a class per period decreased from 81% to 70%.Among the students who attend the physical education class only 19% report being active for 20 min.

During 1990s, several assessments were made of childrens and youths fitness status and physical activity patterns.Policy makers, teachers, parents, and community members need to collaborate to enhance the fitness status and physical activity for children and youth.This is to degenerate diseases.Heart Disease begin in childhood.Physical Education is a must to children and youth for them to prevent from different ailments and for them to have a healthy lifestyle.

FITNESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR ADULTSThe physical activities pattern of adults reveal a need to get more adults involves physical activities in regular basis.The Physical Activity and Health: A report of the Surgeon General, the following are the conclusions can be drawn about the physical patterns of adults:Approximately 15% of adults engage regularly (3 times a week at least 20 min.) in vigorous physical activity.About 22% of adults engage regularly 5 days a week, 30min. In any intensity of physical activity. Approximately 25% adults report participating in no physical activity during their leisure time.Individuals with dissabilities were less likely to engage in vigorous (27.2%) or regular moderate (9.6%) physical activity than people without dissabilities .

5. Physical activity is more prevalent among males and females.6. Physical activities appear to decline with age , however it seems to increase during the senior years. 7. Among all ages and sexes, the most popular physical activity is walking, with a participation, are gardening or yard work, stretching exercises, weight lifting, jogging or running, aerobics, ridding bicycle, stair climbing, and swimming for exrcises.

Home exercises equipment has become more expensive and more sophisticated.Stationary bicycles, treadmills, cross country ski machines, rowers, stair machines, and weight system are popular. More equipment incorporates heart monitoring electronics and workout computers to give users increasingly sophisticated feedback about their efforts. Sales on diet books and exercise videos continue to rise. It is important to note, however, that buying apparel, shoes, and exercise equipment does not guarantee that they will be used by their owners on regular basis.

Corporate fitness and commercial health clubs have attracted a record number of participants.The number of participants in athletic and recreational programs in the schools and communities have increased as well during recent years.An increasing number of communities have fitness and bicycling trails, which have proven to be popular with community residents.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE FITNESS MVEMENT FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT Many Americans of all ages are not exercising vigorously with sufficient frequency, intensity and duration to maintain an adequate level of health related fitness, an increasing, number of people are making a commitment to incorporate physical activity into their lifestyle.The increased documentation of the positive relationship between adequate levels of health related fitness and wellness offers strong support or physical education and sports programs.It is a must to everyone regardless of anything.

YOUTH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Establish policies that promote enjoyable, life long physical activity.Require daily, comprehensive physical education.Commit adequate resources for physical activity, instruction and programs.High qualified specialists for each area.Require that physical activity program meet the needs and interests of all students.

2. Provide physical and social environment that encourage physical activity.Provide access to safe places/facilities on school or community.

Strive to prevent physical activity related in juries and illness.Provide time in the school day for the activity.Offer worksite health promotion programs for the school faculty and staff.3. Implement planned, sequential physical education curriculum that encourage students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, and confidence needed to adopt physically active lifestyle.National standards form for the curriculum framework.Active learning strategies and enjoyable participation.Develop students positive attitude toward mastery of motor skills and confidence on it. Foster enjoyable participation of physical education in school, community and home.

4. Implement planned, sequential health education curriculum that encourage the students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral skills needed to adopt physical activity lifestyles. Promote collaboration among physical education, health and specialists for the activities and instructions.Develop students mastery of behavioral skills and acquisition of positive attitudes.5. Offer extracurricular physical activity programs that meet all students needs and interests. Provide diversity of developmentally appropriate physical activity programs for all students.Link students to community physical activity programs, and use community resources to support extracurricular physical activity program.

6. Involve parents/guardians in physical activity instruction d extracurricular physical activity programs, and encourage them to support their childrens participation.Encourage parents to advocate for high quality of physical activity instruction and programs for their children.Motivate parents to be role models for physical activity and to incorporate physical activity into family activities. 7. Provide physical education, health education, recreation, health care and other important professionals with training that imparts knowledge and needs to effectively promote physical activities. Through higher education institutions, provide preserved training for education.Instruct educators of physical education to deliver properly the lessons.Teach active learning strategies needed to be developed.