Exercise: The Vital Foundation of a Healthy Lifestyle
Why do people exercise?
Is it pointless to squeeze those precious moments of exercise into our busy lives? From personal experience, as someone who studied Physical Education throughout K-12 up to a Bachelor's Degree, I can confidently say: Absolutely not!
Key Components of Exercise
Exercise is a diverse activity that encompasses a myriad of movements, including locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative, and combined movements. These movements are vital for early childhood development, ensuring that neurologically functional development is on track. A persistent failure to utilize these movements at established ages can indicate underlying neurological issues in cognitive and physical development (H1).
Physical Aptitude and Health
Regular exercise improves crucial components of physical aptitude such as cardiorespiratory resistance, agility, muscular endurance, strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility (H2). These aptitudes are essential for performing daily tasks without undue fatigue. For instance, an obese person often lacks all of these components, leading to chronic and degenerative health conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver failure, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis (H2).
The evidence is clear: people who exercise live longer than obese individuals. It is rare to see obese individuals in their 80s or 100s, which underscores the importance of a healthy exercise routine (H3).
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Exercise also has profound effects on mental and emotional well-being. It releases dopamine, the hormone responsible for feelings of happiness and relaxation (H2).
Academic Performance and Discipline
Consistent exercisers often exhibit improved academic performance. This is due to the increased blood flow to the brain and enhanced nerve impulse transmission, which promotes efficient cognitive function (H2).
Combining Nutrition and Exercise
To maintain a healthy weight according to your gender, age, height, and weight, it is crucial to combine a healthy nutritional regimen with regular exercise. This holistic approach ensures that you are achieving a balanced and sustainable healthy lifestyle (H2).
Where Do We Go Wrong?
Unfortunately, a significant portion of schools have failing physically education classes by implementing sports-based curricula instead of promoting a healthy lifestyle. The inefficiency and outdated nature of these curricula are a direct contributor to the current epidemic of overweight and obese children and teenagers. Cutting or relegating physical education to part-time or seasonal positions undermines the foundation of a healthy lifestyle (H3).
Conclusion
Exercise is anything but pointless. It is a powerful tool for promoting neurologically functional development, physical aptitude, mental well-being, academic success, and weight management. By prioritizing physical education and fostering a culture of regular exercise, we can address the contemporary health challenges facing our society (H1).