Physical Activity in Children and the Role of the Healthcare Professional

What is this article about?

Regular physical activity promotes the growth and development of children and has multiple benefits on their physical, mental and psychosocial health. It is becoming increasingly evident that the promotion of health-enhancing behaviours must start early in life, as they carry many short and long-term health benefits. Physical activity not only improves the physical fitness of an individual, but it has also been shown to influence many developmental processes associated with maturation. Here, physical activity has a positive effect on the skeleton, muscles, fat distribution and respiratory system, showing that structural and functional adaptations in children can be benefitted with regular bouts of physical activity.