PT Personal Trainers

The importance of physical activity in children and young people

Regular physical activity in children and young people is essential. It is a great aid to motor development: strengthening the bone system and increasing elasticity as well as psychosocial development: it helps young people and children to learn how live in society.

The 5 main benefits of physical activity in children and young people:

1. Appropriate weight
Practicing physical activity is one of the pillars for achieving the ideal weight, and especially because the caloric expenditure of the exercises contributes to the burning of fat that may be accumulated inside your small blood vessels.

2. Stronger bone system
The best exercises for practicing in adolescence are those that produce a reduced impact like most of the collective sports, because in this way there is a greater bone progression and thus reducing the risk of osteoporosis in the adult age.

3. Tends to accelerate the growth process
Physical activity favors child growth because when the muscles contract, the bones respond by getting bigger and stronger, so the more active children tend to develop better.

4. Decreased risk of sedentary lifestyle in adult life
Children who practice physical activity from young age, such as swimming, ballet or group sports, tend to have a lower risk of becoming a sedentary adult in the future, thereby improving their quality of life and decreasing the risk of future heart problems.

5. Improving self-esteem and confidence
Physical activities in children increase self-esteem and confidence. It is in these activities that they can set, draw and achieve goals, which they like to share in their social environment, giving them greater confidence in the group. The ease with which children and young people demonstrate what they feel during class also helps parents and teachers understand their potential frustrations, thus facilitating daily care.

In normal situations, a child does not go to the doctor or specialist before they start physical activity, they do need to be accompanied by professionals, which can be found in Personal Trainers. If the child or young person has any health problem, related to heart disease, diabetes, sinusitis or is underweight, you should go to a doctor for physical activity.

Text by João Matos