Physical Fitness/Physical Activity

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Physical Fitness/Physical Activity

• EPC252, Semester 2

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Physical Activity or Physical Fitness?

• too much emphasis has been placed on fitness
  testing of youth. Until more evidence is
  available supporting the relationship between
  youth fitness characteristics and childhood and
  adult health, more attention should be focussed
  on physical activity behaviour
• Barrett, B. (1996, May 3). Fitness Testing.
  Message posted to uspe-l_at_listserv.vt.edu

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Why is this area a problem?

• In the policy document Developing an Active
  Australia A framework for action for physical
  activity and health (1998) it was stated that
• at least one-third of Australians are so inactive
  that they gain no health benefit and the risks to
  the community from physical inactivity are great
  
• physical activity is extremely important for good
  health and its preventive role in most of the
  conditions focused upon in the current National
  Health Priority Areas (see highlighted areas on
  next slide).

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Why is this area a problem?

• Almost half of the adult population does little
  or no physical activity or sport.
• A 1 increase in the number of people achieving a
  level of sufficient and regular physical activity
  would save 122 deaths a year from coronary hearth
  disease, non-insulin dependant diabetes and colon
  cancer.
• A quarter of these deaths is in people under the
  age of 70.

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Why is this area a problem?

• Australia could achieve gross savings of 3.6
  million a year in health care costs of these
  three diseases for every 1 gain in the
  proportion of the population who are sufficiently
  active.
• Quality of life would also rise.
• THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR. WE NEED A MORE ACTIVE
  AUSTRALIA.
• Active Australia. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8th
  August, 2000, from
• http//www.sportnet.com.au/activeaustralia/nationa
  l/resources/index.htm

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Why be active?

• Physical activity can reduce the risk of coronary
  heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes,
  colon cancer and osteoporosis.
• Participation in regular physical activity can
  also improve mental health, help to manage
  arthritis, and prevent injury from falls through
  improving strength and balance, especially in
  older people.
• Physical activity and health. Evidence and
  research. (2001). Retrieved on 9 July, 2003, from
  http//www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/active/ev
  idence.htm

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National Physical Activity Guidelines for
Australians

• Think of movement as an opportunity, not an
  inconvenience
• Be active every day in as many ways as you can
• Put together at least 30 minutes of
  moderate-intensity physical activity on most,
  preferably all, days
• If you can, also enjoy some regular, vigorous
  exercise for extra health and fitness

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About the Guidelines

• The guidelines refer to the MINIMUM level of
  physical activity required for the attainment of
  good health a healthy body weight
• The guidelines should be combined with an ongoing
  pattern of healthy eating
• Wide variety of foods including plenty of breads
  cereals (preferably wholegrain), vegetables
  fruits
• Choose foods which are low in fat, particularly
  saturated fat, also low in salt
• Only a moderate amount of sugars foods
  containing sugars should be chosen
• Drink alcohol in moderation

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Definitions

• Physical Activity refers to any activity that
  involves significant movement of the body or
  limbs
• Fitness relates to the capacity of the heart
  lungs to supply oxygen-rich blood to the working
  muscles and the capacity of the muscles to use
  oxygen to produce energy for movement
• Exercise is a type of physical activity defined
  as a planned, structured repetitive body
  movement done to improve or maintain fitness

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Definitions ctd.

• Moderate-intensity physical activity will cause a
  slight, but noticeable, increase in breathing and
  heart rate may cause light sweating in some
  people
• Health in this instance, refers to metabolic
  well-being as reflected in low risk levels of
  blood fats, blood pressure and body weight as
  well as general physical mental well-being
• Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
  (n.d.) National physical activity guidelines for
  Australians Brochure.

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Physical Activity for Children

• Primary school aged children should be active at
  least 30-60 minutes on all, or most days of the
  week
• An accumulation of more than 60 minutes, up to
  several hours of activity is encouraged per day
• Some of the childs activity each day should be
  in periods lasting 10-15 minutes or more
  include moderate to vigorous activity

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Physical Activity for Children ctd.

• Extended periods of inactivity are inappropriate
  for children
• A variety of physical activities selected from
  the Physical Activity Pyramid is recommended for
  primary school children
• National Association for Sport and Physical
  Education. (n.d.). Physical activity for
  children. Brochure.

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Physical Activity Pyramid
Rest inactivity
Flexibility exercises
Strength/muscular development exercises
Active aerobics
Sports recreational activities
Lifestyle activities
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Physical Activity Pyramid
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Physical Activity Pyramid

• greatest emphasis
• considerable emphasis
• moderate emphasis
• some emphasis
• little emphasis
• The table is designed to indicate emphasis in
  all forms of physical activity including in and
  out of school

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NIKE slogan Just Do It!

• We know how to just do it
• FITT principle
• F frequency
• I intensity
• T time
• T type
• BUT its not happening!!!

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So, what do we have to do?

• We need to look at the biology of the individual,
  the conditions of the environment, the links to
  physical fitness through appropriate tasks.

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Just Do It!!

• ENVIRONMENT
• opportunity
• encouragement
• instruction
• ecological content

• INDIVIDUAL
• genetic factors
• growth factors
• nutrition factors

• TASK
• physical
• mechanical

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Just Do It!!

• A change in functional motor development occurs
  with interaction of the above 3 factors the
  individual the environment the task.
• The child is at the centre of the process. This
  gives the child knowledge and skills.
• The child needs to take responsibility then we
  need to put play/fun into the equation.

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Why Play/Fun?

• It is a vehicle for promoting learning
• It permits exploration experimentation
• It permits the development of new cognitive
  structures
• It promotes increased competence

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Strategies for Doing It

• Teach the how why of increased physical
  activity proper nutrition dont say just, do
  it!
• Stress personal responsibility decision making
• Make it regular
• Make it fun
• Incorporate a team approach
• Gallahue, D. (1997). Just do it! Keynote lecture
  given at the AISEP Singapore conference.

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How do we go about teaching in/for this area?

• Action Pact
• Incorporates basic game movement skills into a
  high energy program to boost self-confidence,
  enhance enjoyment of activity improve fitness
• Australian Fitness Award
• A program of easy to use tests, a motivational
  system of awards and supporting curriculum ideas
  fro 9-18 year old students
• Daily Physical Education

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Action Pact

• A fully integrated, health-related activity
  program
• Provides a powerful resource for those schools
  which aim to develop and promote healthy living
  through their school curriculum

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Australian Fitness Award

• Test items are designed to measure the
  health-related fitness of students.
• They include
• Growth Height and Weight, with Body Mass Index
  (BMI) calculated by the computer program.
• Cardiorespiratory Endurance Multi-Stage Fitness
  Test and 1.6 km run/walk.
• Muscular Strength and Endurance The Curl-up and
  the Basketball Throw.
• Muscle and Joint Flexibility The Sit and Reach
  Tests and Shoulder Stretch.

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Daily Physical Education

• NEXT WEEKS LECTURE!!!!