The Benefits of Physical Activity (OCR GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

The health benefits of physical activity

• Participating in exercise and physical activity can improve your health, fitness and your overall well-being 

• Whilst health and fitness are closely related, they are not the same thing 

  • Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity 

  • Fitness describes a person’s ability to meet or cope the demands of their physical environment

    • E.g. A person doing an office job requires lower levels of physical fitness than an Olympic athlete

• Well-being is the feeling of being contented, happy and healthy

  • It is how a person feels about themselves and whether they feel fulfilment and a sense of purpose in their life 

• Each component of well-being is positively impacted by participation in exercise and physical activity

Physical health and well-being 

• Physical health is not just muscle strength and athletic performance. It is having all body systems working well, and being free from illness and injury with the ability to carry out everyday tasks 

• If you exercise and improve your fitness your physical health and well-being can improve  

  • E.g. your body adjusts to the exercise and adapts, allowing your body systems to work more efficiently 

•  Physical activity improves heart function particularly by taking part in aerobic exercises regularly such as running, swimming and cycling   

  • Having good cardiovascular health reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease which includes problems like blood clots/blockages that lead to heart attacks and strokes   

• Other body systems can also increase in efficiency, such as the musculoskeletal system   

• It reduces the risk of illness, such as type 2 diabetes   

• Having good physical health makes everyday task easier 

  • E.g. such as walking up stairs, childcare, and carrying heavy items   

  • People with poor physical health may experience pain or breathlessness from these activities   

• There is a reduced risk of obesity, which can significantly decrease physical health and therefore well-being   

• Physical activity helps strengthen the core muscles and the muscles that support the spine which can help to stay more upright which improves posture 

  • The leg muscles are also stronger making it easier to stand and be balanced

Emotional health and well-being 

• Emotional health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life and can work productively, making a contribution to their community 

• It is often referred to as mental health, and it is how we think and feel about ourselves and others 

• Participating in regular physical activity can have a positive effect on our emotional health:  

  • It helps to reduce stress, tension and anxiety by clearing the mind and helping you forget the stresses of everyday life  

  • This can help to alleviate depression 

  • It triggers the release of the 'feel-good' hormone serotonin 

  • It helps people to regulate and control their emotions or anger 

  • It helps you feel better about yourself and feel confident in how you look which increases self-esteem and confidence  

Social health and well-being

• A person with good social health will have:  

  • Their basic human needs met e.g. food, shelter and clothing  

  • A support system of friends and/or family  

  • Some value in society and be socially active and comfortable in social settings

• Participating in physical activities increases social health by providing opportunities to socialise and make friends with people who have common interests

• This is particularly the case for team sports where groups of people gain a strong connection by needing teamwork to achieve a common goal  

• Gaining skills like strong communication and good cooperation helps to improve sporting outcomes, but these skills can also be applied to other areas of life, such as school or the workplace