Modern Life and Physical Inactivity

Did you know that over 80% of adolescents worldwide are not active enough [1]? For example, the average 12- to 19-year-old American teenager sits for more than 8 h a day. This means some kids hardly move during a third of the day! This lack of physical activity can lead to many health problems, including obesity and diabetes. Being sedentary also can reduce the chances that you will discover the full potential of your body. Physical abilities like jumping, throwing, pulling, climbing, and crawling are necessary for playing sports, engaging in outdoor activities, and expressing yourself through movement. In children and adolescents, these physical abilities are declining because young people often do not play outside and exercise as much as they should. Think about it: our ancestors had to be physically active to hunt and eat. Yet today we spend too much time sitting in front of screens or commuting in cars, buses, and trains instead of playing outside or walking to our destinations. Many free-time activities have become more sedentary. For example, you may enjoy entertainment such as video games or social media. The problem is that these activities do not require much physical movement at all.

Why Should You Move?

Sports, exercise, and active play are considered a “medicine” that can prevent many diseases [2]. Moving your body throughout the day is an excellent way to reduce your risk of heart disease, improve your physical fitness, and maintain the proper levels of joint mobility. The good news is that, unlike some medicines, physical activity has no dangerous side effects when it is done the right way. Practicing sports and playing outside with friends will also help you socialize, feel more energetic, and concentrate better. Physical activity can help you to feel better, look better, and think better. Several studies affirm that practicing exercise and sports regularly when you are young helps you to continue exercising when you are an adult [3]. This concept is called adherence. During adulthood, exercising regularly is necessary for our physical health and the health of the brain, which naturally decline as we age. Unfortunately, when kids have poor muscle strength, they may be more likely to suffer injuries and less likely to participate in exercise and sports later in life [4].

People Were Stronger in the Past!

Although it may seem like a surprise, when they were your age, your mother and father, and possibly even your older brothers and sisters, were probably stronger than you are. Research studies have shown that boys and girls cannot perform as many sit-ups and pull-ups as previous generations could. Because we use technology for longer periods these days, a condition called exercise-deficit disorder is appearing [5]. This disorder is caused by doing <60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. When your muscles are inactive, they get weaker and softer, and you can suffer from pediatric dynapenia, which is a low level of muscular fitness [6]. Children who do not exercise enough also cannot jump as far or run as fast as other children. Due to inactivity, the hearts, lungs, muscles, and bones of modern-day children may not be fully prepared to meet the demands of sports or other activities.

No Worries: Exercise to the Rescue

Maybe, after reading this far, you are feeling a little discouraged. But the bright side of all this is that your physical fitness can improve! Scientific studies say that any age is the right time to start exercising. Try to accumulate at least an hour of daily physical activity, and you will quickly begin to see the benefits. Everything counts! You may think exercise is just traditional sports, like basketball or track and field. But riding your bike, walking your dog, dancing, or playing at the park also count as exercise. Playing hopscotch, carrying your friends around, or doing wheelbarrow races can also improve your strength, balance, and coordination.

Stronger Muscles, Stronger Health

Being stronger brings many health benefits (Figure 1). Try to perform some form of strength-building activities at least 2 or 3 times per week [7]. Strength-building exercises with weights, medicine balls, elastic bands, or even with just your own body weight have been shown to make muscles stronger and faster. If you do not have equipment at hand, that is no problem. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, many people found creative ways to do workouts at home. You can use household items, such as bottles of water or a backpack. Try to chest press a bag of pet food or a jug of laundry detergent. Calisthenics are also beneficial for improving your physical condition naturally and playfully. These exercises, which include push-ups, pull-ups, squats, or sit-ups, use your body weight and can be performed almost everywhere and adapted to your fitness level. Many studies say that using your own body weight can improve your strength, flexibility, agility, and endurance. Imitating animals, in activities like bear crawling or duck walks, can be fun and help you to get fit at the same time.

Dispelling Myths About Lifting Weights When You Are Young

Resistance training (also called strength training), which involves lifting weights, has had a bad reputation when it comes to children. People previously believed that it could harm young kids. However, scientists have shown that performing strength-building exercises with good technique does not harm growing bones or make muscles bulky [8]. In fact, it is difficult for young children to increase their muscle size beyond that of normal growth, because children lack several hormones that only appear during puberty. This does not mean that strength training at an early age is not helpful. Strength training can help children to be more competent in sports such as gymnastics, climbing, or skating. These disciplines require high levels of skill and strength. Also, participating in strength-building activities when you are young increases your future strength. Children who exercise early in life have better muscle strength levels later in life than inactive children or those who only participate in traditional sports (Figure 2). Following instruction from qualified teachers and coaches is important to prevent injuries. Children who perform strength exercises at home without supervision suffer more injuries than those participating in well-designed programs at school or at fitness centers under the supervision of teachers or coaches.

Conclusion

Moving and being active are necessary to help us maintain healthy bodies and minds. Daily physical activity has many benefits at any age, and childhood and adolescence are no exception. In fact, experts are warning about serious health consequences in kids who are not moving enough. Various types of exercises can be beneficial to your health, if practiced regularly. Strength training is an important form of physical activity, since improving muscular strength early in life supports ongoing participation in exercise and sport activities throughout life. Strength training can be fun, and exercises for children and adolescents and can be practiced with very little equipment. So, now that you understand the benefits of being strong and physically active, we hope that you make some form of resistance training an important part of your daily life. Now is a good time to get up and move your muscles!

Glossary

Sedentary: ↑ A person that spends much time sitting or does not move often. A sedentary lifestyle leads to many health problems.

Adherence: ↑ Exercise is more effective if you keep practicing it in the long term. People showing exercise adherence are those who participate in physical activity regularly.

Exercise-deficit Disorder: ↑ A condition caused by physical inactivity, when people do not get the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity recommended by current public health standards.

Pediatric Dynapenia: ↑ A disorder of children and adolescents, characterized by low levels of muscular fitness and the physical limitations that it causes.

Calisthenics: ↑ Exercises performed using your own body weight. Most calisthenics can be easily done anywhere because no equipment is needed.

Resistance Training: ↑ Exercises that make muscles move against a weight, a barbell, or another piece of equipment. Also called strength training since the aim is to increase body strength.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.