What role can Sport play for Mental and Physical Well-Being?

This section provides some answers to this question, covering topics such as the preventive health benefits of sport and its role in combating certain diseases, as well as the impact of public health campaigns.

Over the past decades, a progressive decline in the level of daily physical activity has been observed in industrialised countries. For most people, physical effort has been reduced for the most part, whether at work, in domestic tasks, in transport or in leisure time. Although health risks differ between countries and regions, it appears that physical inactivity is an important factor in the development of non-communicable diseases. Physical activity can, in many cases, counteract the health effects of inactivity.

The Health Benefits of Sport and Physical Activity

There are now countless scientific findings attributing positive lifestyle effects to sport and physical activity. The direct effects of regular physical activity are particularly apparent in the prevention of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, depression and osteoporosis.

Benefits of sport on the body

It has been clearly demonstrated that regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower the risk of high blood pressure. It improves your body’s endurance, increases your stamina and flexibility.

Physical activity is also an essential preventive measure to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis. Practising sport helps to prevent low back pain and the recurrence of symptoms. Muscle strengthening from exercise is also beneficial for chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Healthy ageing and maintaining effective immune function for longer are also benefits of exercise.

Effects on overweight and obesity

Physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight, maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain. Since obesity is a major problem that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, etc., physical activity is essential. Its role is essentially preventive.

Benefits for the skin

To be adopted without delay if you want to keep your skin elastic. A real rejuvenation cure!

Benefits for the brain

In Alzheimer’s disease, it also plays a role in reducing the mortality rate and the risk of falls.

Benefits for the mind

Physical activity also has positive psychological consequences. It reduces depression and anxiety. Sleep is then favoured, except if the sport takes place in the evening. The latter is then stimulating. Not to mention its effects on good humour!

As a child, sport has an influence on health by slowing down the development of risk factors for chronic diseases. During adolescence, it improves self-esteem, reduces stress (due to the production of hormones called endorphins) and anxiety.

Benefits of sport on sexuality

Sexuality also benefits from sport. With good heart muscle endurance and erectile function, physical activity plays a role in maintaining good sexual quality over time.

How much sport per day and per week?

The optimal combination of type, frequency and intensity of physical activity for different populations is not known. However, there is a common consensus that regular physical activity of at least 30 minutes and moderate intensity is recommended for a healthy lifestyle. It is also important to choose activities that are culturally relevant to the individuals doing them.

Regular exercise 2 to 3 times a week (about 1/2 to 1 hour each time) is desirable to achieve the desired effects. You should know that it is not limited to sport, but can include various activities such as walking, housework, gardening, etc. The practice should be adapted to the different ages of life.