Understanding Phsyical Activity

Understanding Phsyical Activity

1. Key Terms

   • Exercise – Planned or structured physical activity requiring physical effort, aimed at improving health and fitness.
   • Healthy balanced lifestyles – day-to-day life that has equilibrium, quality and wellness and which includes exercise, nutritious diet, injury and illness prevention, rest, sleep, hobbies, personal hygiene, control of stress and relationships.
   • Lifetime sport – activities that can be enjoyed over the course of a lifetime e.g. table tennis or badminton
   • Lifelong physical activity – enjoyable, health enhancing movement that is sustained throughout life e.g. Pilates or yoga

2. Benefits

   • Physical – Improved fitness, reduced risk of CHD, reduced risk of osteoporosis, decrease blood pressure, greater life expectancy
   • Personal – enjoyment, increase confidence, improve leadership skills
   • Emotional - Reduced stress levels, relieve anxiety, improve academic performance
   • Social – make friends, improve team work, improve communication

3. Factors contributing to a sedentary lifestyle

   • Work in Britain has changed from manual labourers to desk bound jobs
   • Longer working hours
   • Widespread use of cars.
   • More people watch sport rather than play
   • Increased reliance on technology e.g. computers for internet shopping and games

4. Recommended levels of participation in physical activity

   • Adults
     • At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days a week
   • Children
     • 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.

5. Barriers to participation

   • Being in a minority group e.g. women, disabled, ethnic minority e.g. asian women and swimming clothing restrictions
   • Don’t enjoy exercise, don’t like getting hot and sweaty
   • Lack of time e.g. studying or part time job
   • Bad (school) experience
   • Lack of role models friends / peer pressure
   • Not enough money / withdrawal of Government funding e.g. withdrawal of free swimming for young people
   • Poor health e.g. asthma
   • Tired / can’t be bothered
   • Limited provision
   • Lack of equipment or facilities eg no swimming pool nearby
   • No transport
   • Unfavourable weather
   • Low self esteem, lack of confidence self-conscious, poor body image