Sport and Physical Activity – the Benefits

Sport and Physical activity has a key part to play in improving health and wellbeing. It helps to prevent coronary heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer - our country's leading killers. It can also reduce the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, weight problems and obesity.  Increasing levels of participation in appropriate sport and physical activity can also contribute to lower worklessness, less crime, increased skills, stronger community identity and community cohesion.

Regular exercise can help to:

• In combination with a balanced diet, reduce or maintain a healthy weight
• Improve your self-confidence and self-esteem and help prevent depression and stress for example examination stress, workplace stress
• Provide you with a more positive body image, this could be especially important for times when your body is changing for example teenagers, having a baby, getting older
• Boost the immune system
• Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer
• Help control blood pressure
• Reduce the effects of osteoporosis
• Improve your stamina so you can keep going longer
• Increase your strength and suppleness
• Increase your energy levels
• Teach people how to take risks and be assertive
• Increase mathematic skills and team work
• Improve academic success
• Learn goal-setting, strategic thinking and the pursuit of excellence in performance - critical skills necessary for success in the workplace
• Develop leadership skills
• Improve your general wellbeing
• Improves the overall quality of life

Ultimately sport and physical activity can be fun and can provide a host of benefits whatever your age or gender.