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Yet, the benefits of regular exercise can be seen at every age.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a third of U.S. high school students do not regularly engage in any "vigorous-intensity" physical activity. Participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 32 percent in 2001.
In addition to helping to control weight, regular physical exercise contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and lowers the risk of diseases such as stroke, colon cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
People of all ages can benefit from moderate physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five times a week. However, the CDC recommends separate physical activity levels for adolescents and younger children.
Adolescents, it suggests, should participate in some sort of physical activity every day, ranging from physical education in school to childhood games. It recommends that adolescents engage in activity that requires at least a moderate amount of exertion at least three times a week for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Younger children should participate in at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Those 60 minutes can be accumulated throughout the day, but the periods of exercise should last at least 10 minutes and should involve moderate to vigorous activity.
Related Website:
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The President's Challenge |
