Why Is Fitness Important for Teenagers?

Understanding why fitness is important for teenagers involves understanding exactly what fitness means. According to the dictionary, fitness is the condition of being fit; suitability, appropriateness, healthiness, etc. This means that the importance of fitness for teenagers is the need for teens to be healthy. This can be especially important at this critical stage of life.

There are a number of reasons why engaging in exercise and eating right is important for teenagers:

• Stave off childhood and teen obesity
• Benefit from the stress reduction, strengthening and team-building benefits of physical activity

Obesity

Obesity is becoming a major killer in America and is a leading cause of preventable death, right up there with smoking cigarettes. Obesity can lead to a number of problems, from arthritis and osteoporosis as a result of the breakdown of joints due to excess weight, to Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.

Childhood obesity is more common than ever before, and obese children tend to grow into obese adults. The problems of obesity are thus exacerbated and occur earlier, since a teen can start to develop some of the symptoms of pre-diabetes when he is young and will thus have diabetes for a longer period of time over the course of his life than someone who develops diabetes at aged 40.

When a teen is fit, he or she exercises and eats right and avoids becoming obese. If he continues to maintain that fitness into adulthood, he may never be overweight and thus can significantly reduce his risk of numerous diseases, including various types of cancer in addition to other obesity-related illnesses.

Exercise

Exercise, an essential component of fitness, releases endorphins which helps teens deal with stress. Thus, being fit can be a way for teens to let off steam. Physical activity is a healthy outlet for problems, angers and stresses that tend to plague teenagers during the difficult transition into adulthood.

Recent studies reported by the National Institute of Health show that exercise by children and teens can result in larger and stronger bones, even if they stop exercising.

Teens who participate in team sports can learn teamwork, develop strong friendships, and are less likely to be involved in drugs and alcohol. Furthermore, these teens may be inspired to maintain high grade point averages as many schools require good grades to stay on a team. Thus, if teens achieve fitness through participation in a sport, there are even more benefits to being in good shape.

What Is Fitness?

Fitness generally refers to the idea of your body being in good shape. It can mean a number of different things:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising
• Not being overweight
• Taking care of yourself
• Getting enough sleep

Most people consider themselves to be healthy as long as they aren't sick. In other words, if you aren't coughing, sneezing, lying at home with the flu or otherwise exhibiting symptoms, you may believe that you are fit and healthy. However, there is a difference between being healthy and simply not being sick.

Being healthy and fit means that your body is well maintained. Like a car that needs its oil changed and regular maintenance or a home that has to be cleaned to be kept looking nice, your body also needs regular care in order to be the best that it can be.

Fitness is a part of giving that care to your body. Thus, fitness is important for everyone. However, it may be especially important for teens, since if teens develop good habits in their youth, they may continue those habits throughout the course of their entire lives, ultimately becoming healthier, fitter adults.

The reason fitness is important for teenagers is that all of the benefits associated with exercise and healthy eating can be learned early and carried through for the rest of their lives.