Health and wellbeing are vital aspects for all populations. There are many benefits for individuals who engage in physical activity and adhere to a healthy eating balanced diet. In 2003 The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) states that Physical activity “Interacts positively with strategies to improve diet, discourages the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, helps reduce violence, enhances functional capacity and promotes social interaction and integration.”
The Health service executive (H.S.E) have produced the national guidelines for physical activity. The guidelines vary for age groups from children to eighteen. Eighteen to sixty five, and sixty five up. These guidelines are valuable to individuals, parents, health care workers and in the area of health promotion.
Young people and children are recommended to partake in at least 60 minutes physical exercise a day.
The Health behaviors in school children (H.B.S.C) 2010, a report done with 43 countries in conjunction with the World health organization (W.H.O), showed that Ireland ranked 2nd with 47.9% of children engaging in physical exercise four or more times a week. This study also showed that children from the
References: Ewles,L and Simmet,I (1999). Promoting Health: A practical guide (4th Edition),London:Balliere Tindall The Food Safety Authority of Ireland. http://www.fsai.ie/resources_publications.html http://www.stroke.ie/iopen24/preventing-stroke-t-483_495_506.html US Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2008 www.getirelandactive.ie www.nuigalway.ie/hbsc/