Introduction

‘World Athletics day’ formed by the International Association of Athletics Federations was earlier known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) back in 1996. It is celebrated in over 156 plus countries in the first week of May every year. 

Without a doubt, sport and activities are an important element to create an environment where tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, inclusion, and health prevails. So read on to know the significance and benefits of good physical health.

Significance and Objective of World Athletics Day

The World Athletics Day was introduced to gain the participation of children who are members of clubs linked with IAAF federations.

Later the initiative expanded with the idea of introducing physical activities and athletics in the school as a part of their academics. 

The basic objective of forming the World Athletics day is to encourage and popularize sports among the youth and also construct a link between the youth, sports, and environmental conservation.

Various activities carried out in all around the countries of the world, including:

• Symposiums, workshops, and talks related to sports and health.
• Races, marathons, and collective sports games.
• Community fairs with sports, cultural and recreational activities.
• Campaigns to promote physical activity.

As we celebrate World Athletics Day, let us understand and celebrate the importance of physical health during this pandemic.

Being physically active is probably not a priority amid our concern to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. But be careful, maybe it should be because physical health can be a valuable tool to control COVID-19 infections and maintain quality of life.

We know that staying physically healthy and active is one of the best ways to keep bodies fit. But do you know that being physically fit can also help you improve your overall well-being and quality of life? Let us know more.

Exercise on World Athletics Day

Consistent exercise is very important at any age. For this reason, all health professionals recommend it.

Performing physical activity helps you prevent many diseases and in addition, it improves mood, self-esteem and reduces the possibility of developing disorders, such as depression and anxiety. For this reason, the need to modify the sedentary lifestyle is increasingly important.

Next, we explain the importance of practicing some physical activity regularly and how it is related to improving physical and mental health.

Physical Health on World Athletics Day

Physical health, in turn, involves the general condition of the body. Thus, a physically healthy person has a good functioning of his body and its vital functions.

To promote physical health, it is necessary to reach and stay at an appropriate weight, reduce alcohol consumption, stop smoking and, of course, practice some type of exercise.

Consequences of a sedentary lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle is nothing more than the absence of physical activity, which is enough to maintain good health. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle has many bad consequences for physical and mental health.

Value of Mental Health on World Athletics Day

There are many emotions present in our daily lives: stress, anxiety, anguish, worries, dissatisfaction, nerves, among others. Knowing how to deal with all these feelings is essential for mental health.

A mentally healthy person can face the challenges and changes of the day-to-day with balance, recognizes their limits, and seeks help when necessary.

So how to maintain your mental health in the day to day life?

To maintain good mental health, you need to take good care of your body, that is, sleep well, eat properly and exercise constantly.

Physical Activity: A Great Ally of Mental Health

The practice of physical activity provides a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

When we exercise, our body releases endorphin, a natural substance produced by the brain during and after performing some physical activity. The release of endorphin, also known as the “joy hormone”, helps to relax, reduces stress, anxiety and improves mood.

For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) established April 6 as World Physical Activity Day and promoted the “Move for Health” initiative that is celebrated in May.

Benefits of good physical health on World Athletics Day

Here are some of the ways that physical health can help you feel better, look better, and live better. So Why? Why not?

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. The WHO explains that the lack of physical activity is the fourth risk factor for mortality worldwide, in addition to the main cause of a high percentage of breast and colon cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.

In contemporary society, jobs that require physical activity are increasingly scarce, which is why sport takes on greater importance. An appropriate level of activity:

• Reduces the risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and depression.
• Improves bone health and the body’s functional capacity.
• It is decisive for energy expenditure and, therefore, helps to achieve a caloric balance and a healthy weight.

It is not necessary to practice impact or high-intensity sports, but a long walk at a good pace (which makes us sweat a little and get tired) can be enough.

Conclusion

Let us take a pledge this World Athletic day that we will stay away from a sedentary lifestyle: To combat it, according to the WHO, World Health Organization, it is recommended to perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Therefore, you can get 30 minutes of exercise daily.

But beware: people who lead a sedentary lifestyle should start slowly, gradually increasing the intensity and duration of the exercises.

People who are not used to doing some activity may feel unmotivated after starting to do it. To prevent this from happening set possible goals to achieve and adapt the exercise schedules to your routine. There are thousands of videos available on the internet which can assist you in the process.

The importance of an active lifestyle is parallel to none, even more so in this Covid19, crisis situation. A healthy routine with some amount of physical activity, on a daily basis, will help strengthen the body’s immunity to fight against Covid better.  This World Athletics Day 2021,  let’s together pledge to take charge of our own health. 

Stay motivated, Stay fit, and also encourage people around you to do the same (it will also help you stay motivated towards your own fitness goal :).

Hope you found the article helpful. If you want us to research and cover any specific topic, do let us know in the comment section.

Please stay safe! 

#WorldAthleticsDay2021 #COVID19 #FightCorona 

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