In the modern era, there are many disorders that people are diagnosed with especially as a result of ignoring the basic concepts of the general fitness. There is sufficient scholarly evidence to prove that there should be a balance between physical, mental and psychological well-being. Therapists are therefore advising people to exercise regularly to improve the psychological, physiological and metabolic functioning of the body, which results in better mental health and a reduction in the mortality rate. When exercising, it is essential to ensure that all organs have been engaged, otherwise, it will not be general fitness. LeMond and Hom (p.10), argued that exercising should go beyond the physical muscle in order to promote an individual’s overall health a position that has been proven true through practical and theoretical knowledge.
Charles and Richard, in their works, Solitary Fitness argued that exercises are essential in improving a person’s overall performance. Important suggestions were presented to offer solutions to health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Exercises, therefore, go beyond the aerobic capacity or the muscle size that people generalize quickly. Regular exercises bring about an enormous sense of well-being besides feeling energetic for the rest of the day. It is also reported that better sleep is boosted, the memory made sharper, and promote a positive attitude towards life. Perez-Bey et al. (p. 213) cautioned people who are overweight and obese because the conditions promote cardiovascular diseases that are even affecting children and adolescents in contemporary society. A journal article that featured in Journal of Experimental Child Psychology further supported the findings reported in the Solitary Fitness although much of the focus was on academic performance.
According to De Bruijn et al. (p. 206), general fitness should be encouraged among students because it boosts the academic performance and executive functioning later in life. Previously, sufficient research works were linking physical exercises to improved metabolic functions, pulmonary ventilation, renal function, and cardiovascular capability. More research conducted on the importance of exercises as an important factor promoting general fitness has revealed that there are improvements that happen in the brain structures that boosting the cognitive functioning. Specific aspects that are boosted include inhibition, memory, planning, and attention. A student that exercises regularly will have better self-performance and record a high score in numerical aptitude tests. The authors, therefore, concluded that school systems should make physical exercises to be a compulsory aspect especially when there is a need to improve mathematical and spelling tests.
The importance of regular exercises in promoting general fitness is further underscored in The Science of Fitness, in the second chapter of the book. LeMond and Hom provided an informative account of the advantages of keeping fit which goes beyond the bodybuilding assumption. Specific focus was placed on the roles that the cells play in the body and why there is high urgency in ensuring there is proper regulation of blood sugar and other homeostatic functioning. Without the stability in these body functions, it becomes impossible to achieve mental fitness, a critical aspect of human beings that determine their success in life. With more exercises, there is sufficient supply of oxygen and the release of endorphins, commonly referred to as 'feel good chemicals. However, these results are achieved through the focus on the physical shape which should be a secondary goal.
Medical professionals have also been advising patients to be engaging in regular exercises in order to deal with diseases such as diabetes and depression because of the overall positive outlook on life. Medication cannot provide a comprehensive solution to the health problems and it, therefore, becomes important to ensure that exercises are conducted to provide a calm mind among other accruing health benefits. From Potkanowicz account, strengthening mental health comes first before gaining physical benefits of exercising (Potkanowicz 245; Biddle 67). Physical performance and mental health are two intricately intertwined concepts, and it becomes important to ensure that there are at least a few minutes in the daily bust schedule dedicated for exercises.
The comfort brought about by exercising has also been explained as emanating from an easy outlet of emotions. Inactivity impacts negatively on the coping ability and it becomes increasingly difficult to control emotions. One of the closest linkages between physical and mental benefits of exercising is explained by the reduction of the muscle tension that makes an individual feel much relaxed. The benefits of exercising for the promotion of general fitness, therefore, proves there should be enough resources set aside to carry out health campaigns aimed at making people shift to the alternative and cheaper method of treating and preventing diseases. The busy work schedules should not be a reason to avoid exercising because it is possible to set aside at least ten minutes which to many might be considered as a waste of time. Cumulatively, these minutes might save a persons life through preventing a wide variety of diseases besides promoting cognitive skills.
Works Cited
Biddle, Stuart, et al. Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being. Routledge, 2003.
Bronson, Charles, and Stephen Richards. Solitary Fitness. John Blake, 2007.
De Bruijn, A.G.M., et al. "Exploring the relations among physical fitness, executive functioning, and low academic achievement." Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, vol. 167, 2018.
LeMond, G., and M. Hom. "The Human Machine." The Science of Fitness, 2015, pp. 9-37, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801023-5.00002-8.
Potkanowicz, Edward S. "The Role of Physical Activity in Cognitive Fitness: A General Guide for Community Programs." Enhancing Cognitive Fitness in Adults, 2011, pp. 239-248.
Pérez-Bey, Alejandro, et al. "The Role of Adiposity in the Association between Muscular Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease." The Journal of Pediatrics, 2018.
