​P.A

POSITIVE EFFECTS

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS CONTROL OUR WEIGHT

Students have a fair idea of what food is healthy and what is not. If students are exposed to healthier choices through a healthier menu at the school canteen/shop this can limit their options of choosing unhealthy food. Physical activity can be introduced by describing how ‘calories’ provides energy to their bodies. Through physical activity, if students can burn off more calories than what they eat, this will help control weight issues. If not, the energy from those remaining calories will store as fat, leading students in becoming overweight.

(Refer to page on Obesity)

 

What to do:

• Promote physical activity every day during class. Some students do not participate in any sort of physical activity during break times, do not assume they do.

• Advise students that too much television and playing of video games will affect their physical activity levels.

• Describe the food pyramid and importance of certain foods as encouragement towards healthier eating.

 

The statistics:

• In 2011/2012 children aged between 5-14 years (47%) used active transport to school (e.g walking, cycling etc).

• In 2011/2012 children aged between 5-14 years (53%) watched two or more hours of television per day. It has decreased since 2006/2007 (57%). Māori children (62%) are more likely to watch two hours or more than non-Māori children.

• In secondary schools, just over 10% of students met the daily requirement of 60 minutes per day of physical activity (Youth, 2007).

 

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FIGHTS AGAINST HARMFUL HEALTH CONDITIONS

If it was raining outside, what resource would you use to prevent yourself from getting wet? A raincoat, right? Not only will the raincoat keep you dry, it will also keep you from getting a nasty cold which may lead to the flu, which may lead to an intake of various medicines, which may lead to a doctor’s appointment and eventually the ‘d’ word, death. Yes, I know it sounds extreme at this stage but students need to understand the effects physical activity has towards their health. Lucky for teachers, extremities like this can be avoided.

 

Advantages of physical activity:

• Lowers blood pressure levels.

• Improves cholesterol levels.

• Helps avoid heart related diseases

• Helps avoid types of cancer: Type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer

 

There are many other harmful diseases that can occur due to low levels of physical activity. Like a raincoat, physical activity provides that immediate protection from these harmful health conditions now and in the coming years of life.

 

What to do:

• Define and investigate some of these health conditions/diseases in depth but only appropriate to age level

• Seek help from services that provide insights concerning the condition

 

The statistics:

• In the Waikato region, there was $54 million spent on avoidable diseases associated with physical inactivity. Majority of the expenditure was spent on heart diseases.

 

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS STRENGTHEN MUSCLES AND BONE DENSITY

Students learn at an early age that calcium and Vitamin D strengthen teeth and other bones in the body. Physical activity is another form of protection for bones. Though students may not be aware of the immediate effects to their bones at a young age, there is no effort wasted in exposing to them the difficulties that may occur later in their lifespan.

 

Advantages of physical activity:

• Avoids hip fractures

• Avoids problems associated with arthritis

• Avoids Osteoporosis

 

What to do:

• Define and investigate other causes and preventions of Osteoporosis.

 

The statistics:

• In the Waikato region (2009), there were no deaths caused by Osteoporosis due to physical inactivity, but there were six deaths nationwide.

 

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IMPROVES SLEEP QUALITY

Sometimes students may turn up to school looking like zombies, due to a lack of sleep. Though we have no control over their sleeping habits, what we do have control over is their physical activity during school hours. Fox (1999) mentioned in his research that exercise in bright light, presumably the day, improved the quality of sleep. He said that the duration of physical activity is important, rather than the intensity and fitness level of the individual.

 

Advantages of physical activity:

• Reduces  insomnia.

• Reduces psychological dysfunction.

• Reduces dependency of sleeping pills.

 

What to do:

• Set aside time every day preferably outside in the ‘bright light’ for physical activity, fitness, games and activities.

 

The statistics:

• Students aged between 5-12 need at least 9-11 hours of sleep every day. Adolescents need 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep. Physical activity will improve and help students obtain these recommended hours of sleep.

 

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EXTENDS OUR LIFE EXPECTANCY

Again students maybe unaware or are particularly not worried about the future, especially about becoming old people. They are all about the present and what it has to offer them, vice versa.

 

Advantages of physical activity:

• Increase rate of life expectancy.

• Increase performance of daily routines and activities during ageing.

 

What to do:

• Encourage students to make physical activity a life-long habit by getting them involved in sports and out of school clubs.  This will remind them to stay active while they age in life.

 

The statistics:

• Students who are actively involved in physical activity for at least 7 hours a week have a 40% higher chance in outliving those who only spend about 30 minutes a week on physical activity. In New Zealand the life expectancy of an adult is at least 65 years old.

• In 2009, it was reported that there was 246 premature deaths below the average life expectancy due to physical inactivity.

 

 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IMPROVES OUR MENTAL HEALTH

Students also have busy lives, yes, that could be questionable but students also feel the mental pressures that adults may feel regularly. Constant levels of stress due to peer pressure and the feeling of being excluded amongst friends and others. These feelings can be avoided through the help of physical activity.