Why Should People Take Part in Physical Activity and Sport?

UK Coaching Team

30 Jan 2023

256

Improving Physical Ability Self-care and development

It’s recommended that adults take part in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week, should aim to be active daily, and should minimise sedentary time.

If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.”

Chief Medical Officers (September 2019)

Physical activity and sport have been shown to have many short- and long-term physical and mental health benefits. Participation can:

help people to lead healthier and happy lives
reduce the need for using the NHS
enable people to contribute more to their local community.

Individuals who take part in regular physical activity benefit from a lower risk of developing many long-term conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, stroke, depression, and heart disease.

Physical activity also improves:

the immune system
self-esteem and mood
sleep quality and energy.

Data shows that 61.4% of adults (28.0 million) in the UK achieved the global recommended levels of physical activity."

Sport England, Active Lives Adult Survey November 2020-21 Report

Why should people take part in physical activity and sport: list of physical and mental benefits

Reflect

Reflecting on your own levels of physical activity:

How physically active are you? How many steps do you take in an average coaching session?

How often do you meet the recommended levels of physical activity?

How would you benefit from being more physically active?

What might be preventing you from being more physically active?

What physical and mental health benefits have you experienced with being physically active?

Consider

How could you be more physically active?

What motivates you to get physically active? Do you know what motivates your participants? Have you asked them?

Have a go

Challenge yourself to keep physical activity interesting by trying something new!

Or, challenge yourself to incorporate some form of physical activity into your daily routine!

Related Resources

Behaviour Change: Understanding People’s Journey
View
Behaviour Change: Understanding Motivations
View

*Jōbu is a social enterprise using behavioural science to motivate people to get and stay active.

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