Benefits of Physical Activity
Staying active as a college student can be challenging. The lack of time, resources, or energy can interfere with being active. This page will educate you on the many benefits of physical activity as a way to stay motivated when it comes to exercising.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
As college students, we tend to experience struggles with mental health, anxiety, and depression. Young adults from 18-25 years old tend to be at risk for poor mental health. Physical activity has shown in a variety of studies, to potentially enhance mood, self-esteem and decrease anxiety. Physical activity can also be associated with socializing which has shown to be beneficial for mental health. (VanKim, & Nelson, T. F., 2013) Though mental health is important and should be treated by professionals, physical activity could a great addition to treatments.
Physical Activity and Physical Health Benefits
Becoming active during college can have many benefits in the long term. Studies have shown that physical activity can lower the risks of obesity as it is currently a crisis in the country. Participating in physical activity regularly can better quality of life and prevent a variety of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and more. Engaging in physical activity has also shown to prevent risks of cancers. Enhancing activity could lead to better mental health and over all health for older adults and the general population. (Zhang, et al., 2016).
How to Stay Active?
Lack of physical activity has shown to be the tenth main cause of disability worldwide. Staying active does not have to be discouraging. "Some physical activity is better than none, more is better than some, and any amount of physical activity you do gains some health benefits." (De Souto Barreto, 2015) If you are struggling with being sedentary, it is important to focus on achieving realistic goals. A bit of exercise each day such as walking is a great start to better health and life expectancy!
Setting Exercise Goals
It is important to set exercise goals that you feel confident and competent in. This can increase motivation and consistency on your exercise journey! Everyone is different, set goals that can help you to stay active. For example, if you thrive in competitive environments, try to engage in group activities. On the contrary, if you are a person who is motivated by personal achievement and improvement, exercising alone may be a better option. Remember that all types of daily exercise is improvement. Engage in activities that you enjoy and positive/desirable goals that you can accomplish. (Lochbaum, et al., 2013)
References:
VanKim, & Nelson, T. F. (2013). Vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress,
and socializing among college students. American Journal of Health
Promotion, 28(1), 7–15. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.111101-QUAN-395
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Zhang, Xiang, P., Gu, X., & Rose, M. (2016). College students' physical activity and health-
related quality of life: An achievement goal perspective. research quarterly for
exercise and sport, 87(2), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2016.1159279
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De Souto Barreto. (2015). Global health agenda on non-communicable diseases. BMJ
(Online), 350(jan20 7), h23–h23. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h23
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Lochbaum, Podlog, L., Litchfield, K., Surles, J., & Hilliard, S. (2013). Stage of physical
activity and approach-avoidance achievement goals in university students.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14(2), 161–168.
Additional Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Exercise or Physical Activity Data in the US