Obesity has now become a major problem in the U.S. with the increasing rates being a cause of alarm. Research shows that the unhealth diet and lack of physician activity have concluded to this behavior. In essence, physical fitness comprises the functioning of the heart and lungs, and other body muscles (What is Physical Fitness para 2). Fitness makes it possible for one to perform to their potential and look healthy. It integrates the majority of bodily functions including the cardio-respiratory, skeletomuscular, and endocrine-metabolic.
Components of Physical Fitness
There are several components of physical fitness which enhance the general understanding of this topic. First, muscular fitness regards the strengths of the muscles and endurance (What is Physical Fitness para 10). It is essential to engage in strength training that boosts the fitness of the muscles. Similarly, it improves the body’s lean muscle mass which assists in weight loss. One can achieve this through regular sessions every week which challenge the major muscle groups to fatigue.
The second component is flexibility which primarily focuses on the potential to move joints and utilize their muscles sufficiently. Flexibility is a crucial concept which is required for daily activities and helps in improving circulation and posture. Additionally, it is a great way for stress relief which is paramount for body coordination.
Third, stability and balance are key elements which are linked to the core strength of the body muscles. It entails the muscles in the lower back, his, and the abdomen. To combat poor posture and low back pain, a person has to strengthen the muscles which combat poor posture and low back pain. In the case of adults, flexibility significantly prevents falls.
Benefits of Physical Fitness
Physical fitness is the most convenient way of controlling weight by either preventing gain or maintaining loss (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016, para 4). Fitness assists in burning body calories which are responsible for the weight. The more a person performs these activities, the more they burn calories allowing them to regulate the weight. While one can take regular trips to the gym, the more important factor is to remain active throughout the day. For instance, rather than taking an elevator, it is better if one takes the stairs and make sure they do this consistently.
Evidence shows that there is a relationship between health conditions and diseases and lack pf physical fitness (Martínez-Vizcaíno & Sánchez-López, 2008). The best way to overcome a majority of these problems such as heart disease and diabetes is to focus on physical fitness. It boosts the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cuts down the unhealthy triglycerides. Consequently, this results in constant flow of blood in the body which limits the risk of cardiovascular illnesses. Physical fitness assists in the prevention of a majority of health issues such as stroke and arthritis.
Ideally, body fitness is associated to improved mood in a person. A moment of physical fitness stimulates the activity of the brain chemicals which often leave a person with a feeling of being happy and relaxed. In this way, sometimes physical fitness results in an improved self-esteem as it boosts a person’s confidence mostly since one is not afraid od being judges based on their looks.
Physical fitness is a great source of energy for the body. Whenever one has problems performing in their daily chores or at work, fitness can overcome this as it improves the strengths of the muscles of the various body parts and boosts one endurance. One of the components of physical fitness concerns cardiorespiratory endurance which is the potential to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues and also helps in getting rid of body wastes over sustained periods of time. On the condition that the condition of the heart and lung health improve, one is able to tackle daily chores.
Physical fitness leads to better sleeping patterns as it creates more adenosine in the brain which is an essential factor of causing sleep (Wickwire & Williams, 2016). Also, it assists the body to understand the specific schedule and the internal clock of the body. Particularly, a physical fitness section in the morning will certainly result in better sleep at night. Sleep is great for body which helps one to recover, conserve energy, and repair the worn-out muscles. Whenever one gets good quality sleep, the body produces a hormone which stimulates growth. When a person is still in their childhood, the growth hormone contributes to further development of the body while it builds lean muscle when the individual is an adult.
Physical fitness has a considerable impact on the sex life of a person. Research proves that fitness is like a natural Viagra and is linked with a lower risk of erectile issues (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016, para 13). On the other hand, women who engage in body fitness report increased desire for sex and arousal. Notably, the increased rate of blood flow assists in explaining the reason for better sexual function for men. Another aspect which contributes to this behavior is the improved self-image since one is less conscious about their body.
Generally, physical fitness is fun and an engaging exercise of the body. It is enjoyable to be actively involved in activities which improve the functioning of the body. Additionally, this offers one the opportunity to think about their lives and enjoy other activities out of the usual routine. Body fitness also helps one to connect with friends and family during the sessions of maintaining one’s shape.
Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents
Research indicates that physical fitness is related to better physical conditions of a child. There are three basic elements of fitness including endurance, strength, and flexibility. Parents ought to motivate children to perform various activities to utilize each of the aspects.
Endurance is achieved when the children can regularly access aerobic activity (Galvin, 2013, para 7). During this exercise, the muscles are in movement and the heart beats at a faster rate. The child also breathes faster as it strengthens the heart and enhances the ability of the body to deliver oxygen to the various cells. Aerobic exercise may include activities such as soccer, swimming, walking, and basketball.
To improve strength, one does not have to lift weights. Rather, the parent should encourage the kid to do regular push-ups, pull-ups, and other exercises which help in strengthening the muscles. Again, this is achieved through wrestling or climbing trees and other hurdles.
One of the most convenient ways of ensuring that a child remains flexible is through stretching. It constitutes the act of allowing the muscles to bend and move easily during motion. Children have the chance to stretch when reaching a toy or a cartwheel.
The Problem
One of the major threats to physical fitness and heathy living is the Internet and technology which dominates the significant part of a child’s life. Today, kids and teens are mostly sitting around doing no physical activity but are rather engaged in videogames, watching cartoons, and surfing the web. There is often little or no time for regular physical playing which adds to the problem of childhood obesity.
It is vital for children to be engaged in physical activities which enhances their body fitness. Through this, they are able to overcome various health risks such as diabetes or being overweight. The most convenient way to increase the physical fitness of children is regulating the amount of time one spends on the television, smartphone, or videogames.
The best way to control the time a child spends on the television or other engagements which limits their physical activity is for parents to limit the screen time to less than an hour for young children. In this way, they have more time to play with others and interact with them which enhances their physical fitness. Again, parents should encourage high-quality programming which motivates them to engage in physical activities.
Adults have a responsibility of making sure that the kids get ample exercise. For most kids and teens, doing exercise for an hour each day promotes the body fitness (Galvin, 2013, para 12). On the other hand, toddlers and preschool children should be active in playing several times every day. But it is essential for young children to be always active, unless they are sleeping.
The best way to raise fit kids is to combine regular physical activity with a healthy diet. Parents ought to motivate the children to perform age-appropriate activities and set a schedule for these physical activities. They should develop habits in children where they will regularly opt for being active, such as using the stairs as opposed to using an elevator. In addition, the parents should adopt healthy lifestyles and act as positive role models for the family.
A Matter of Principle
There are several factors to consider when selecting the kinds of exercises which one should partake. First, one ought to consider the specificity which entails choosing the right kind of activities for individual components (What is Physical Fitness, 2013, para 13). Ideally, strength training result in improvement of strength. Again, one should consider training for the particular activity they have an interest in. An example is that swimming performance is best attained when the muscles which are actively involves in swimming are trained for the required movement.
Second, one should consider the aspect of overload by not working too hard such that the level of exercise becomes more than the body can sustain. The goal is to achieve improvement, which is possible by doing the average which is necessary for the body. Arguably, the most crucial aspect is regularity which implies that one should remain consistent with the specific body activity. Notably, there ought to be progress achieved by increasing the intensity and frequency of an activity for quality improvement.
Conclusion
Physical fitness is an important aspect of healthy living which helps one to avoid the risk of developing health issues such as heart condition. Body fitness has several benefits including weight control, improved moods, enhanced sex life, better sleeping patterns, and it is a fun and engaging activity. Parents should develop habits of body fitness for their children from an early age.
References
Galvin, M. L. (2013). The Many Benefits of Exercise. Retrieved November 18, 2018, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/exercise.html
Martínez-Vizcaíno, V., & Sánchez-López, M. (2008). Relationship Between Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents. Rev Esp Cardiol, 61(2), 108-111.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016, October 13). Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity. Retrieved November 19, 2018, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
What is Physical Fitness. (2013). Retrieved November 19, 2018, from MIT Medical: https://medical.mit.edu/sites/default/files/Physical_Fitness_101.pdf
Wickwire, E. M., & Williams, S. G. (2016). Sleep, sleep disorders, and mild traumatic brain injury. What we know and what we need to know: findings from a National Working Group. Neurotherapeutics, 13(2), 403-417.
