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Benefits & research

» Youth

Making the case

  1. Over half of 5-17 year olds in Canada are not active enough for optimal growth and development.
  2. The majority of adolescents in Canada are not meeting current recommendations for physical activity.10 
  3. Approximately half of teens are not vigorously active on a regular basis.10
  4. In one study, school children in grades 7-9 were 35% less active than those in grades 4-6. An identical decline was observed in grade 10-12 students compared to the previous grade category.
  5. Physical activity decreases with increasing age or school grade.10
  6. Physical inactivity contributes to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.  In 2000-2001, 4.1% of Canadians 12 years and older reported they had been diagnosed with diabetes by a health professional.
  7. Physical inactivity contributes to an increased risk of high blood pressure.  In 2000-2001, more than 3 million males and females aged 12 years and older had high blood pressure.

Health benefits

  1. Daily physical activity in adolescence and young adulthood is positively related to bone mineral density in adulthood.
  2. Physical activity contributes to better self esteem.
  3. Physical activity contributes to better health.
  4. Physical activity contributes to reduced body fat.

Benefits to academic performance

  1. Increasing participation in physical activity can decrease a student’s study time.  Academic performance is maintained as physical activity increases.
  2. When more time is dedicated to physical education, academic performance does not suffer.
  3. Learning appears to occur more rapidly in the classroom when more curricular time (14-26%) is devoted to physical activity.
  4. Physical activity has been shown to increase concentration levels in students

Environmental benefits

  1. Walking and bicycling instead of driving positively impact the natural environment.
  2. Through active outdoor physical activities (walking, gardening and cycling), Canadians not only improve their health but also help the environment.

Social benefits

  1. Young people who are physically active are less likely to use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
  2. Problems of juvenile delinquency can decrease when appropriate physical activity programs are available.

Sources

Making the case:

1) Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (2001). 2000 physical activity monitor. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute: Ottawa, Ontario.
2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Physical activity and health: adolescents and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, Georgia.
3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Physical activity and health: adolescents and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, Georgia.
4) Welsman, J. and Armstrong, N. (2000). Physical activity patterns in secondary school children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 5(2), pp. 147-57.
5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Physical activity and health: adolescents and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, Georgia.
6)Statistics Canada (2003). Persons with diabetes by sex, provinces. Statistics Canada: Ottawa, Ontario.
7)Statistics Canada (2003). High blood pressure. Statistics Canada: Ottawa, Ontario.
8) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Physical activity and health: adolescents and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, Georgia.   

Health benefits

1) Kemper, H.C., Twisk, J.W., van Mechelen, W., Post, G.B., Roos, J.C., and Lips, P. (2000). A fifteen-year longitudinal study in young adults on the)
2) Fox, K.R. (1999). The influence of physical activity on mental well-being. Public Health Nutrition, 2(3A), pp. 411-8.
3) Erlichman, J., Kerbey, A.L., and James, W.P. (2002). Physical activity and its impact on health outcomes. Paper 1: the impact of physical activity on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: an historical perspective. Obesity Reviews, 3(4), pp. 257-71.
Erlichman, J., Kerbey, A.L., and James, W.P. (2002). Physical activity and its impact on health outcomes. Paper 2: prevention of unhealthy weight gain and obesity by physical activity: an analysis of the evidence. Obesity Reviews, 3(4), pp. 273-87.
4) Grundy, S.M., Blackburn, G., Higgins, M., Lauer, R., Perri, M.G., and Ryan, D. (1999). Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its comorbidities. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(11: supplement), p. S502-8.
Smolander, J., Blair, S.N., and Kohl, III, H.W. (2000). Work ability, physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness: 2-year results from Project Active. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 42(9), pp. 906-10

Benefits to academic performance

1) Shephard, R.J. (1997). Curricular physical activity and academic performance. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9(2), pp. 113-26.
2) Shephard, R.J. (1997). Curricular physical activity and academic performance. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9(2), pp. 113-26.
Daley, A.J. and Ryan, J. (2000). Academic performance and participation in physical activity by secondary school adolescents. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91(2), pp. 531-4.
Magarey, A.M., Daniels, L.A., Boulton, T.J., and Cockington, R.A. (2003). Predicting obesity in early adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 27(4), pp. 505-13.
Tremblay, M.S., Inman, J.W., and Willms, J.D. (2000). The relationship between physical activity, self-esteem, and academic achievement in 12-year-old children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 12(3), pp. 312-23
3) Shephard, R.J. (1997). Curricular physical activity and academic performance. Pediatric Exercise Science, 9(2), pp. 113-26.
4) Caterino, M.C. and Polak, E.D. (1999). Effects of two types of activity on the performance of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students on a test of concentration. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 89(1), pp. 245-8.

Environmental benefits

1) http://www.activetransportation.org/environment.htm
2) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/fitness/evidence.html

Social benefits

1) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/fitness/evidence.html
2) http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/fitness/evidence.html

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