“What’s in it for me?“
There are huge benefits to you, your family, and your whole community from getting more exercise.
Here are a few of the ways that increasing physical activity provides health, social, economic and environmental benefits.
And we’re not talking about going to the gym. Walking as part of your daily life provides benefits in as little as three 10-minute doses spread throughout the day.
*30 minutes for adults; more for children and teens; and the more you do, the more you benefit!
Physical Benefits
Mental Health benefits
- Mental health benefits of participation in physical activity include:
- Improved self esteem and confidence;
- Reduction in stress, anxiety and depression;
- Improved mood and sense of wellbeing;
- Improved concentration, enhanced memory and learning, and better performance at school;
- Reduced feelings of fatigue and depression; and
- Improved psychological wellbeing and mental awareness.
Social benefits
- Increased community cohesion;
- Improved social/community networks and social capital;
- Improved family and community connectedness;
- Safer communities; and
- Reduction in sense of isolation and loneliness.
Social benefits specific to children
- Development of communication, interpersonal, leadership and co-operation skills;
- Creation of lasting friendships;
- Increased interest in accepting responsibility;
- Teaches them how to deal with winning and losing;
- Provides a vehicle for responsible risk taking;
- Helps build social skills among children and may deter anti social behaviour; and
- Helps young people develop self-discipline and leadership.
Social benefits specific to seniors
- Increased social contact; and
- Prolonged, independent living.
Economic benefits
- Health savings from reduced prevalence of chronic disease;
- Productivity gains;
- Creation of employment;
- Attraction of tourism;
- Low cost means of transport;
- Support for local business;
- Reduction in absenteeism; and
- Reduction in crime.
Environmental benefits
Particularly where walking or cycling replaces car trips, benefits include:
- Reduced traffic congestion;
- Reduced air pollution;
- Reduced greenhouse emissions;
- Reduced noise pollution;
- Safer places with people out and about; and
- Reduced need for the enormous amount of space required to store, drive and park motor vehicles.
Other benefits of sport & physical activity
Personal benefits for children
- Teaches them self discipline, commitment and responsibility;
- Teaches them organisational skills and how to share; and
- Teaches them to deal with pressures and stress;
Benefits to parents
- Knowing where their children are, that they are being supervised and having fun;
- Appreciation that their children are being active and healthy;
- Better performance of their children in school. Research has shown that children who are involved in sport tend to stay in school longer and get better grades; and
- Assistance in behaviours that will encourage lifelong health and wellbeing.
Benefits courtesy of Government of Western Australia Department of Sport and Recreation.
