Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the media about the increasing immobility and declining well-being of young people. Fewer and fewer young people, only a quarter of 15-year-olds, are meeting physical activity recommendations. LadyLine is helping to support physical activity among young people by giving out free summer exercise vouchers.
The impact of physical activity on young people's health
According to the recommendations, young people should get at least an hour of varied and age-appropriate physical activity a day. They should do vigorous, breathing and muscle-strengthening physical activity three times a week.
Intense physical activity in adolescence predicts an active lifestyle in adulthood, so physical activity in childhood and adolescence, as well as inactivity, will have an impact in adulthood. Physical activity in adolescence can, for example, increase mobility in later life.
As in adulthood, physical activity in adolescence has positive health benefits. Exercise has a number of effects on young people's health, including:
- Improves health and well-being
- Prevents diseases and their risk factors
- Important for brain development
- Develops the musculoskeletal system
- Increases bone and muscle mass, strength and coordination
- Improves mobility and balance
- Strengthens positive self-image
Inactivity among young people will impose major costs and changes on society in the future. Soon we may even be in a situation where few people in their fifties will be able to do physical work. However, preventive work can make a big difference.
Is gym exercise healthy for a young person?
Sometimes you hear claims that gym training has a negative effect on a child's height or other development. If you make sure that you eat and rest enough during the day while exercising, gym training will not have a negative impact on your youngster's development.
However, each young person develops at their own pace and this is something to take into account when starting gym training. Whether or not you have done any other sport or physical activity in the past will also have an impact. If gym training is the young person's first sporting activity, it is advisable to start with a professional. To help them get started, young people will receive initial guidance and a gym programme.
The same things apply to starting a young person in the gym as to any other beginner, regardless of age: take it easy and go forward in a controlled way.
LadyLine and EasyFit involved in the campaign - 1500 free training scholarships for young people
The LadyLine and EasyFit gyms aim to address this problem and offer young people a low threshold for taking up physical activity. So for the second time, 40 LadyLine and EasyFit centres will distribute a total of 1,500 summer exercise vouchers, which will allow young people to exercise for free during their summer holidays, from 1 June to 15 August 2024.The campaign aims to get young people who would otherwise not exercise and who have no previous gym experience into physical activity.
More information: youth training grants | LadyLine
Sources:
UKK-instituutti: Physical activity influences child and adolescent development
Höntsä guide: immobility in children and young people - risks and solutions
