One of the accomplishments for which former US First Lady Michelle Obama is remembered is her efforts to promote the health of America’s children. She campaigned for physical activity and health diets in American schools. Mrs. Obama’s initiative represents an understanding of the role that diets and physical activity play in human health. While all segments of the population benefit from physical activity, sport and nutritious diets, children are especially poised to enjoy the benefits of these interventions. The health benefits of sport and physical activity among school children are numerous, varied and significant.
Obesity is one of the gravest challenges that the US faces today. Figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 18.5% of America’s children and adolescents are obese (CDC 2019). This figure represents millions of children who are exposed to an elevated risk of developing such conditions as diabetes. Research has shown that sport and physical activity are effective remedies for obesity (Pate et al. 2006). Sedentary lifestyles are among the main causes of obesity. Sport and physical activity forces school children to leave the comfort of their seats and engage in stimulating and exciting exercises. This is the mechanism through which these interventions help to reduce the risk of obesity. While children who are not obese are best set to enjoy this benefit, physical activity and sport also helps children who are already obese. Therefore, parents, educators and the healthcare community should join forces in campaigning for sport and physical activity in schools and other environments where school-going children frequent.
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While physical wellness is the main component of human health, it is not the only one. Psychosocial wellbeing is also an important aspect of human health. In fact, psychosocial welfare helps to enhance physical health. For example, individuals who are confident and generally happy with the quality of their lives are more likely to report better physical health outcomes (Sani et al., 2016). In essence, psychosocial health motivates individuals to pursue activities and interventions that secure their physical wellbeing. Research has confirmed that by impacting psychosocial welfare, physical activity and sport set the stage for school children to experience improved physical health outcomes. For example, Malm, Jacobson and Isaksson (2019) observed that individuals who have embraced physical activity and sport witness tremendous personal development and lower their risk of such unhealthy behaviors as drug and alcohol consumption. For their study, Malm and his teams focused on a group of adults. While they did not give particular focus to school children, they allow one to understand that the benefits that the adults experienced also extend to the children. Children who engage in physical activity and sport are more confident and have high self-esteem.
Cognitive and emotional functioning are other aspects of human health for which physical activity and sport have been shown to present positive impacts. Bidzan-Bluma and Lipowska (2018) joined forces to explore the effects of physical activity and sport on the emotional health and cognitive functioning of children. Their findings confirm that these interventions are generally advantageous. In their text, they report that when children are involved in sport and abandon sedentary lifestyles in favor of physical activity, they report improvements in such areas of cognitive functioning as memory, thinking, language and learning. It is true that these aspects of cognitive functioning are not directly or necessarily related to physical health. However, one can argue that by enhancing cognitive functioning, physical activity and sport set the stage for improvements in the physical health of the children. For example, when a child possesses such skills as critical thinking and learning, they are able to recognize the importance of healthy behaviors. It can therefore be expected that this child will adopt behaviors that enhance their physical health and general wellbeing.
In an earlier section, it was observed that reducing the risk of obesity is among the health benefits that accrue to children who participate in sport and physical activity. There is evidence that obesity is not the only health condition that physical activity and sport help to prevent and manage. Cardiovascular disease is yet another illness whose management and prevention benefits from the adoption of these interventions. This is according to Daniels, Pratt and Hayman (2011). While cardiovascular disease is most prevalent among older adults, there are children who also ail from this condition. Rigorous and frequent physical activity eliminates the conditions required for cardiovascular disease to develop. It is indeed encouraging that an increasing number of American schools are implementing programs designed to motivate students to engage in physical activity and sport. The nation can expect to witness a drastic decline in the number of school children who develop cardiovascular disease and other illnesses which are caused by low levels of physical activity.
As is the case with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure (hypertension) is mostly reported among adults. However, children can also develop this condition. According to the American Heart Foundation, children who are overweight and obese are exposed to a high risk of having hypertension (“High Blood Pressure” n.d). Obesity has been blamed on such factors as physical inactivity. In a previous section, a link was established between obesity, physical activity and sport. These interventions are simple yet effective strategies for tackling obesity. Since they lower the risk of obesity which is a risk factor for hypertension among children, it therefore follows that these interventions also help to insulate children against high blood pressure. It should be noted that children whose hypertension is the result of obesity can expect to witness benefits when they adopt physical activity and engage in sport. Those who have developed the condition thanks to such other factors as illness should be provided with other interventions like medication.
Childhood is an important phase as it is during this stage that individuals experience development. However, for development to occur in a healthy fashion, certain practices and resources should be in place. Physical activity and sport have been identified as among the forces which drive healthy and proper childhood development. According to the State Government of Victoria (2015), these interventions facilitate development by promoting the proper growth of bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons. Schools across the US and other parts of the world must have recognized that they have a vital role to play in creating the conditions that children need to develop properly. This must be why they are challenging their students to incorporate sport and physical activity into their lifestyles. Since the many benefits of these interventions have been proven, such stakeholders as parents and teachers should strongly encourage children to play and adopt physical activity.
In closing, children are among the most vulnerable segments of the population. It is therefore crucial to implement strategies that insulate them against the health risks to which they are exposed. Sport and physical activity have emerged as among the most effective interventions. They have been shown to present such benefits as lowering the risk of becoming obese and protecting children against cardiovascular disease. These interventions also boost cognitive functioning and emotional wellbeing. Given that they have many benefits, schools, parents and the medical community should take all necessary steps to persuade children to become involved in sport and physical activity.
References
Bidzan-Bluma, I, & Lipowska, M 2017, Physical activity and cognitive functioning of children: a systematic review, International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 15 (4), doi: 10.3390/ijerph15040800
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2017, Childhood obesity facts, CDC, retrieved July 15, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
Daniels, S R, Pratt, C A & Hayman, L L 2011, Reduction of risk for cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents, Circulation, 124, 1673-86.
High blood pressure in children n.d., American Heart Foundation, retrieved July 15, 2019 from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer/high-blood-pressure-in-children
Malm, C, Jakobsson, J, & Isaksson, A 2019, Physical activity and sports- real health benefits: a review with insight into the public health of Sweden, Sports, 7 (127), 1-28.
Pate, R R , Davis, M G, Robinson, T N, Stone, E J, McKenzie, T L & Young, J C 2006, Promoting physical activity in children and youth, Circulation, 114 (11), 1214-24.
Sani, S H Z, Fathirezaie, Z, Brand, S, Puhse, U, Holsboer-Trachsler, E, Gerber, M & Talepasand, S 2016, Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 2617-25.
State Governemnt of Victoria 2015, Sport and children, Better Health Channel, retrieved July 15, 2019 from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/sport-and-children
