The Importance Of Exercise Around The United States

Young lives are at risk because they don’t make any time to exercise. Exercise around the United States is becoming less common in young adults. Technology is rising and exercise is declining. Whether they know it or not, everyone plays a role when it comes down to the health of young adults. It’s easy to be swayed towards unhealthy habits in America because they are like subliminal messages in our day to day lives. It’s like we’re being brainwashed. Most adults neglect the fact that they are setting trends for the generation behind them. They don’t acknowledge that they have the power to make a change for the better in our country. Isn’t America supposed to be all about the people? This country needs to realize that Physical Education classes
are schools’ only way to contribute to today’s sitting generation. Schools provide a way for high school students to pinpoint their problems and take an action that results in having a positive outcome (ie. good health and health awareness). Physical education courses should be mandatory for high school students because it boosts brainpower, reduces stress, and encourages a healthy lifestyle.
High school students are sedentary and need physical education courses to increase their brain power while in school. The average amount of time that a person should exercise is 60 minutes per day. According to Michelle Castillo, an author on the CBS News website, students tend to do better in school when they have had at least 60 minutes a day of aerobic or cardiovascular activity. If a student can’t get this out of school then it’s the school’s responsibility to provide it . A British study provided evidence which shows that vigorous physical activity improves a person’s brain power. For example, an athlete performs a rigorous workout session like lifting, therefore the brain creates more feel good transmitters. The brain is refreshed. In this study they measured a group of teens’ daily activity with a tool called an accelerometer. The probability that teenagers are mobile is low. Exercises that get the heart pumping are great. For example, students can walk for a certain period of time, jump rope, or even do a few jumping jacks. Although they can do those things, technology is on the rise like never before and more adolescents are sedentary. They don’t realize that they’re risking the ability of the brain to function properly. Peter Katzmarzyk, a professor at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Baton Rouge, says “This study really confirms the low levels of physical activity in adolescents.” It has been studied that 90 percent of teens in America don’t get a sufficient amount of exercise. It’s not all about appearing healthy, but your mental well-being is also a part of your overall health.The brain’s cognitive ability will remain healthy if it receives the energy it needs from exercise. Correspondingly, professionals in the health field say that the graduation rate is at its highest when more students are focused and revitalized in a classroom setting. Physical education class has been mandatory for years now and the high school graduation rate is at 81 percent. This is positive outcome of PE. Gym class gives students the experience of what it’s like to have knowledge of their body and to do something to control their health. By following a healthy diet, you are controlling your health. Equally important, physical activity is a key component to reduce stress levels.
Furthermore, teenagers have higher stress levels than adults and the main reason seems to be school. High school is a time where teenagers struggle with issues such as grades, friendships, and self identification. For example it could be stressful to write a 1600 word argumentative essay with little experience in writing this type of essay. With that said, high school is one of the most stressful times of a teenager’s life. The American Psychological Association conducted a survey of 1,018 teens that showed 83 percent of those teens said that school is the main source to stress. Stress has a negative impact on grades. Stress also affects work and home activities because the brain is distracted from focusing on what the person is supposed to be doing at that time. A student could be at home and is supposed to be babysitting but instead they are worrying about how they could resolve their problems at school; maybe trying to up their grades at the end of the quarter. Students should focus on keeping a steady sleep schedule, eating a healthy meal before bed, and staying active. High school students are unaware how to reduce their stress because the information isn’t provided to them. If schools were to give this information, students would know that exercise lowers stress levels because the body releases more feel good hormones called endorphins. They are ignorant to the benefits that exercise has
on stress. They tend to become sedentary because they don’t have a leader to show them how to cope with stress, therefore they turn to motionless outlets. According to The Washington Post, 46 percent of teens turn to video games to cope with stress, 43 percent surf the internet, and 36 percent watch television and movies. All of these activities are momentarily satisfying. Teens need movement to nourish the brain in order to control stress levels. It’s sad to think that your child or a younger person close to you is more stressed than you are as an adult. When they go to school, gym class is their outlet. Most students are overwhelmed, anxious, and nervous when they’re stressed. For example, it’s overwhelming to think about school, friends, work, and college deadlines all at once (particularly for seniors). Stress needs to be managed in order for them to function properly in their daily lives and take care of their mental well-being. Many students don’t exercise often, but those who do have reported feeling better after they’ve worked out all of the stress. When you’re focusing on doing a exercise precisely, you don’t forget, but you make the problems vanish for the moment. A person may even come up with solutions with their problems. Mental health is as important as physical health. Additionally, physical education classes in schools encourage students to lead a healthy lifestyle. Doctors have confirmed that obesity is one of America’s major issues because teens don’t make time to exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Schools can increase the amount of time that students are being moderately to vigorously physically active during physical education classes.” Schools can increase the gym class requirement or they could assure that PE remains mandatory. In 2013, 15.2 percent of high school students didn’t participate in 60 minutes or higher of exercise for one week before being surveyed about their activity level. They need schools to give them that extra boost of motivation. Without PE class, who would take the time to make teens aware of their health choices and the good or bad consequences that come with them? That is why America needs physical education courses to be mandatory. Students get information about healthy eating and physical activity when they are in gym class. Often times gym classes are like a regular classroom. The students need to know why they are in the class in the first place. Written tests are given a few times that touch the subjects of what to eat and what exercises are good to practice. Schools give students the opportunity to experience the good of taking care of their health. Opportunity is critical being that if they didn’t have a chance, then they wouldn’t know what is at stake. Gym programs in schools have positive effects on educational and health outcomes for high school kids. The CDC says, “The consequences of inactivity include increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, and premature death.” These are only a few health problems that a person can get. If you take away the opportunity for a child to improve their health, then you are responsible for what happens to them as much as they are. Overall the CDC has confirmed that obesity in adolescents has quadrupled in America in the past thirty years. To see a decrease in the numbers, America needs to keep every possible program it has to offer. Opponents argue that students in high school should have the right to choose if they want to take PE class or not because many students are exposed to bullying in gym class. For example all students don’t have the abilities to perform certain vigorous activities because they are physically weaker than other students. The more athletic students may tease the weaker students in the class. Students in high school might skip PE because they are embarrassed. Opponents feel that it is not the school’s responsibility to force students to exercise. Health classes inform students of the consequences of not exercising. Although these claims may be true, students can never get healthy if they aren’t encouraged to exercise. It’s school’s responsibility to promote the concept of taking the right path in their life; that includes taking care of their health. The evidence provided justifies my position. The information provides multiple reasons why students need physical education in high school. It goes into depth of the issues of America not just a few individuals. If lives can be saved, why not try to make a difference? Without mandatory PE in high schools, most teens would exercise very little.
They wouldn’t experience improved brain power, a way to manage stress, or to continue/start to make good healthy choices later in life. In school it’s good to get your brain refreshed, and that’s what PE offers. Students stimulate their brain and increase their brainpower for the next class. School is a stressful environment when one has so many things to worry about. The students with PE are lucky because they get a chance, during school, to relieve some stress and focus better in the day. All together the class ensures that if students continue to exercise, they’ll have less worries. You should make it your priority that PE stays as a requirement in high school. Get out there and spread the
word!