The importance of regular physical activity has been emphasized since the times of the ancient Greeks. Still, nowadays, the decline of daily exercise and the growth of obesity among the average population takes place. Thus, people from school children to adults and senior citizens are becoming less physically fit in comparison with the previous generations. Nevertheless, the importance of good physical condition under no circumstances is undeniable. The current paper discusses several justifications of the significance of physical fitness as well as provides suggestions on how to promote it in daily life.
Physical fitness is an integral part of the healthy lifestyle, wellbeing, and emotional stability of every individual. To be physically fit means to have a body mass index within normal limits, be more robust, do not suffer from chronic diseases. Undoubtedly, fitness has many advantages for those who are not forbidden to take physical exercise because of conditions. There are several dimensions in which sports activities are essential. First, the necessity of taking training lies in the benefits it causes to the body. According to Patil (2020), systematic sports activities reduce blood sugar, prevent chronic diseases, help to control weight, and escape obesity.
Second, physical fitness has a direct correlation with emotional wellbeing. Patil (2020) emphasizes that “fitness does not only refer to being physically fit but also refers to a person’s mental state as well” (p. 248). What is more, a mental good physical condition is unachievable without one of a body (Patil, 2020). Along with that, slim and fit people, who do not suffer from stress, tend to be more self-confident and, thus, more successful at school and work. Physically fit people can go through difficulties more efficiently and solve problems more calmly. Therefore, regular exercise not only strengthens the body but also reduces stress and improves the quality of life.
Third, people are social beings, and for everyone, it is vitally important to communicate with others and share interests. Participation in sports gives a sense of belonging to the community. It could be argued that such a sense of belonging evokes if one attends a fitness club where many people can form a community. Still, even if one prefers jogging early in the morning or late in the evening, he or she becomes a part of the joggers community since one perceives him or herself as a jogger.
The next justification of the necessity of physical fitness has coherence with life longevity since regular exercises benefit both in the short and long term. Except for attractivity, high health indicators, and reduced moral pressure, sport improves the quality of life of older adults. In the article, McPhee et al. (2016) provide an explanation of this with the use of specialized terminology. For instance, the authors claim regular engagement in physical activity encourages “the neuromuscular system to coordinate movements, the cardiopulmonary system to more effectively distribute oxygen and nutrients around the body” (McPhee et al., 2016, p. 570).
Besides, McPhee et al. (2016) reckon that people who are active during their youth tend to age healthily. Healthy aging is the ability of older people to follow a socially active lifestyle without suffering from illnesses and disabilities (McPhee et al., 2016). Consequently, the correlation between physical activities and physical capacities is unquestionable.
After the description of critical reasons for the necessity of physical fitness, it is interesting to notice that the prolonged average duration of people’s lives in a country may influence the social and economic policies of the government. This prolongation could be caused by increased physical activity of individuals as well. On the one hand, healthy aging results in a more working force. On another side, more senior citizens mean the necessity to pay more pensions and, thus, the inevitability of implementation of higher taxes. Though this point is not connected with the need for fitness in our daily lives, it is meaningful to understand that the issue of physical activity is interrelated with state policies on social and economic problems.
More people could be engaged in daily fitness routines through a wide range of governmental policies. For example, it is easy to increase children’s and youths degree of engagement in sports through the construction of athletic fields accessible for free. Besides, the state is in charge of making prices for children’s sports clubs more affordable. It is much harder to promote sport among adults and the elderly generation who have already formed their daily customs. Nevertheless, the sedentary lifestyle causes numerous illnesses (McPhee et al., 2016), and, therefore, people should be aware that fighting against it is vitally important. Social advertisement, as well as the conduction of public events concerning the issue, might influence people’s points of view and change the current situation for the better.
To summarize, it should be mentioned that regular physical fitness is essential for every individual because it helps to avoid health problems and make a body more energetic. Physical activity influences mental wellbeing as well and, consequently, raises the quality of life and the degree of life satisfaction. Considering all of the mentioned above, sport should be heavily promoted in any society because without it people are much worse-off.
References
McPhee, J. S., French, D. P., Jackson, D., Nazroo, J., Pendleton, N., & Degens, H. (2016). Physical activity in older age: Perspectives for healthy ageing and frailty. Biogerontology, 17(3), 567-580.
Patil, M. B. (2020). Importance of fitness for College students. Our Heritage, 68(50), 248-251.