Health Benefits Of Physical Activity

Why is physical activity / exercise important?
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Childhood obesity and physical inactivity is a key risk factor for resulting coronary artery disease. Decreased level of physical activity is one of the main causes of childhood obesity which have long term health risks like stroke and such other major cardiovascular risk factors like, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes. Physical activity has been defined as "bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles those results in energy expenditure" (Pate, Pratt et al., 1995). A child is born with billions of neurons which need sensory stimulation in order to link together to form neural pathways. Every movement made, makes connections in the mind/body system. Even modest increase in physical activity can have health-enhancing effects to brain, including:

► Increased relaxation that let the brain to process more effectively and assists maintenance and learning. ► support the brain to maintain to grow and develop brain cells (neurons) and linking pathways; ► increased and strengthened neural pathways with each new movement experience (and the more connections, the more ways information can be processed); ► increases oxygen and glucose (the fuels) to the brain; and ► Triggers a transmitter that enhances learning by boosting the ability of the brain cells to communicate with each other.

Why is physical activity / exercise important in preventing childhood obesity?
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Increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with an increased physical activity. The value of regular physical activity has important benefits in minimizing the effects of childhood obesity(see childhood obesity effects). Physical activity produces overall health, psychological and social benefits. Some of them include,

► Lowered risk of type 2 diabetes and colon cancer ► Reducing blood pressure and raising HDL ("good") cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases ► Promotion of weight control through energy expenditure. This advantage is of particular importance to children, who are experiencing the same epidemic of child obesity. ► Increase in bone density; ► Enhanced psychological well-being, including gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem ► Reduction of anxiety, improvement in body image and mood; ► Development of physical fitness; ► Weight loss through moderate aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce the hyperinsulinemia, hepatomegaly, and liver enzyme elevation seen in patients with steatohepatitis. ► Resistance training (eg, weight lifting) after aerobic exercise seems to prevent the return of blood pressure to preintervention levels in hypertensive adolescents

The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day in order to avoid obesity in children.

Tips for parents ► What can you do as a parent or guardian or caregiver to help preventing childhood obesity? We have some ideas in our Childhood Obesity Prevention section.

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Childhood Obesity & Physical Activity The main reasons for decreased physical activity among children and youth nclude inactive role models by parents (see childhood obesity & parents) and other caregivers and insufficient access to quality daily physical education in schools (see childhood obesity in schools).

Childhood Obesity & Exercise Lack of exercise has been the main factor of childhood obesity causes.Children like to play video games, computer game, surfing internet, chatting, and any game that don’t need much physical exercise instead playing outdoor sports.