physical activity

World Day Of Physical Activity



The World Physical Activity Day is celebrated every year on 6th April. In MedVisit we believe in the importance of practicing sport regularly, not just because we know it is beneficial for our physical health, but because it is also good both psychologically and socially, among many other benefits, which affect both kids and adults.  If you don’t know much about this day and its importance, what are you waiting for?

Keep reading!

Events World Day Of Physical Activity

Since 2002 the World Health Organization by an official resolution “urges Member States to celebrate a ‘Move for Health’ day each year to promote physical activity as essential for health and well being”. To celebrate you can organize sports events or just add physical activity into our daily activities. Any proposals, such as dancing, cycling or walking at a good pace, serve to improve our health.

Every year different events are organized between the 3rd and the 21st April in many countries of the globe. The main goal of all this activities is to concern people about the importance of doing sport and to transmit the idea of practicing sport daily.

 

Agita Sao Paulo

The proposal of the WHO initiative comes from a previous and successful one organized by Agita Sao Paulo in Brazil and AgitaMundo network that manages, year after year, bringing together around 2,500 participants 5,400,000 events around the world.

This program was created to fight against sedentarism in Sao Paulo and promote the benefits of physical activity.

 

Why should you do 30 minutes of sport every day?

Physical benefits

Many studies confirm that physical activity has many benefits for our physical health.

physical health

 

Psychological benefits

Normally, when something affects physically it also has some kind of repercussion mentally. That’s why we encourage people to do sport. Mental illnesses are a global problem in our society and we need to have a global response in order to overcome it. Here you have the psychological benefits of doing sport:

That’s why it is really important to have a World Day Of Physical Activity. We need to keep reminding people about the importance that exercise has on our average health.

 

Mental illnesses

According to the World Health Organization mental disorders comprise a broad range of problems, with different symptoms. However, they are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. Examples are schizophrenia, depression, intellectual disabilities and disorders due to drug abuse. Most of these disorders can be successfully treated.

Mental health challenges are deeply prevalent in modern society. Why? Cultural pressures often promote unrealistic ideals that severely impact psychological well-being. Research confirms that all people experience stress, and as psychologist Aaron Reuben noted in Scientific American, nearly everyone will develop at least one mental health condition in their lifetime. Yet most never access professional support—hurting relationships, careers, and happiness. With rising global suicide rates, we must prioritize mental health with the same urgency as physical health conditions that impair daily life.

Practicing sport is the best way to reduce the risk of suffering a mental illness.

 

Sport AND mental illnesses

Research shows that for mild to moderate depression, regular exercise can be as beneficial as antidepressant therapy. This makes physical activity a powerful complementary approach for mental well-being. Additionally, exercise acts as a natural anxiety reliever—many people report feeling calmer, happier, and more energized after movement.. Meanwhile, stress decreases leaving us more relaxed. It is also widely known that exercising regularly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder  and improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood. Finally, it has been also demonstrated that by doing exercise you can help your nervous system to react and overcome the immobilization that characterizes both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma.

sport and illnesses