How does playing sports affect your health

Depending on the sport and the athlete, there are both positive and negative effects on your health. Playing sports affects your mental and emotional health due to the physiological effects that exercise has on the body. Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University, and Michael Otto, psychology professor at Boston University, analyzed the results of dozens of studies involving exercise and mental health, and concluded that exercise can help reduce depression and anxiety, and can be especially beneficial to people who lack access to traditional treatments, such as drugs or counseling.

Smits and Otto recommend not only focusing on the long-term gains provided by physical activity, but also the immediate, short-term gains. According to Smits, "After just 25 minutes, your mood improves, you are less stressed, you have more energy -- and you'll be motivated to exercise again tomorrow.

A bad mood is no longer a barrier to exercise; it is the very reason to exercise. The physical benefits of playing sports are numerous. Exercise in general controls weight by burning calories, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, placing a lower strain on the heart, and increases an athlete's energy level while improving the quality of sleep.

It also provides longer-term benefits, such as the reduced risk of diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, reduces the level of body fat, improves the cholesterol makeup of the athlete's bloodstream and makes the bones and muscles stronger.

The athlete also develops the physical skills needed to compete in a given sport, such as hitting a baseball or kicking a soccer ball. Despite all the benefits that can be gained, there are some drawbacks to playing sports. Arem H. Leisure time physical activity and mortality: A detailed pooled analysis of the dose-response relationship. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Blair S. Physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease risk in women.

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Changes in physical fitness and all-cause mortality. A prospective study of healthy and unhealthy men. Paffenbarger R. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

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Only six out of 10 children aged between five and 14 years participate in sport outside of school, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Australian Health Survey conducted in April found that 25 per cent of Australian children and teenagers, aged five to 17 years, are overweight or obese, indicating that we need to foster a more sports-minded culture that encourages children to be physically active.

People who are active dramatically reduce their risk of many diseases, including heart disease and osteoporosis. Regular exercise is also known to reduce the risk of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Habits are established early in life and evidence suggests that physically active children are more likely to mature into physically active adults. Benefits of sport for children Some of the many benefits of sport participation for children include: reduced risk of obesity increased cardiovascular fitness healthy growth of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons improved coordination and balance a greater ability to physically relax and, therefore, avoid the complications of chronic muscular tension such as headache or back ache improved sleep mental health benefits, such as greater confidence improved social skills improved personal skills, including cooperation and leadership.

Reducing inactivity may be more effective in achieving overall increases in energy levels in young children than putting the emphasis on increasing involvement in sporting activities.

Common sedentary activities that compete with physical activity include: homework computer games internet use television.