The Plentiful Profits of Physical Education

Although society is making leaps of technological advancements never before thought possible, the physical activity of the population is steadily declining. As a result of the ever-increasing demand of capable employees in the workforce, individuals are spending more and more time seated in a 5-by-5-foot office cubicle. Now, more than ever, Physical Education has become a key aspect in schools around the nation and should not be cut as it not only provides numerous benefits for students, but also helps them maintain a well-balanced lifestyle. Because students are weighed down by assignments and assessments in their everyday life, Physical Education class acts as an available outlet that helps them relax. This class helps students reduce their levels of depression, as well as anxiety. Studies show that physical education is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted students energy or ability to concentrate. Exercise, in addition to other physical activity, produces endorphins-chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers- and improves the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Physical Education class also helps improve the sleep schedule of a student, as a regular exercise regimen naturally tires out the body, making it more susceptible to deep sleep and the possibility of waking up more refreshed to tackle the day. In addition to relieving stress, physical education helps students build strong bones and muscles and helps control weight. Weight bearing activities, such as jogging, lifting weights, or playing basketball, causes new bone tissue to form, which makes bones stronger. This kind of physical activity makes muscles stronger as well. Bones and muscles both become stronger when muscles push and tug against bones during physical activity. Physical Education class also helps students control their weight by using excess calories in their body that would otherwise be stored as fat. Finally, physical activity helps reduce the risk of developing harmful health conditions. Exercise done in this class aides in the reduction of obesity, one of the lead health problems in young adults in the United States, by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the bodyr's ability to utilize calories. Scheduled physical activity can also help prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering students blood pressure, improving blood flow, and strengthening their heart muscle. By increasing muscle strength and endurance and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise helps to prevent back pain. As a result of this decreased pain and regular weight-bearing exercise that helps promote bone formation, students are less prone to osteoporosis as well. Students spend the majority of their time at school, and in that time more often than not, they are seated at their individual desks. As it is, the amount of exercise that students get is diminishing. Cutting out Physical Education is not a wise choice, especially since it provides an infinite amount of opportunities during school hours for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle, something that they may not be able to do outside of school.

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