The importance of encouraging sports in our daughters
Physical activity and sport should be part of everyone's life and, therefore, as the 11th FAROS Report "Health and sport in women - The importance of staying active from childhood" points out, this habit should be encouraged from childhood for the health of the future.
The report describes the health benefits of physical exercise for people with improvements:
- At the cardiovascular level
- At the musculoskeletal level
- For weight control, in case of pathology.
- In the case of girls, it helps reduce menstrual pain and prevent future bone mass problems during menopause.
In addition, sport has many benefits for mental health and emotional well-being .
- It produces a significant release of endorphins and helps prevent depression and anxiety.
- It helps to increase social relationships.
- It improves personal development.
- It improves self-esteem.
A more active childhood for present and future health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , children and adolescents should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day , dedicating three days a week to activities that strengthen muscles and bones , and avoiding sedentary activities. However, according to the PASOS study by the Gasol Foundation , more than 60% of Spanish children and adolescents do not meet these recommendations. When we look at gender, the differences between boys and girls are significant. The rate of dropping out of or not participating in sports is higher among girls , with 70% failing to meet the WHO recommendations, compared to 50% of boys. When broken down by age, we see that, by educational level, the figure is around 50% in primary school, while it worsens to 70% in secondary school.
It is estimated that the life expectancy of younger generations will be 5 years less than that of their parents due to their lack of physical activity and sedentary habits.
The role of families is key
Dr. Eva Ferrer Vidal-Barraquer , a specialist in Sports Medicine and Women's Health at the Sports Medicine Unit of the Hospital Clínic - Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona , provides key information on how to care for women's physical health in a talk for families organized by the FAROS website . We know that during adolescence and pre-adolescence, many girls and young women stop being physically active, due in part to the physical , sexual , and social changes they experience at this stage, such as the onset of menstruation or breast development. Supporting and acknowledging the physiological changes of adolescence at home, rather than trying to hide them, is crucial for maintaining physical activity.
Tips for families
To motivate and help their daughters to play sports, families can:
- Encourage , support , enjoy , prevent , and establish habits . The younger they start with physical activity, the more they'll miss it when they're older.
- Listen to their tastes.
- To understand their concerns.
- Find out about the needs of each stage.
- Provide options that fit their reality and that of their family.
- Enjoying sports together as a family is very important.
Girls dropping out of sports is a scourge on our society, and families can largely prevent it.
- Helping them manage their schedule and find what is best for their present and future health.
Some practical tips to get started:
- Establish habits with daily activities such as walking or taking the stairs instead of the car or elevator.
- Agree and adapt according to their preferences. It won't always be possible, but reaching an agreement will be more beneficial than forcing situations.
- Involve them when it's time to buy sports equipment or feminine hygiene products so they can be independent in the future.
- Plan and establish active family days.
- Play. At an early age, play is also a physical activity.
Physical activity and nutrition in educational centers
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