Physiological Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Young People

This chapter focuses on the physiological responses to physical activity and the associated health benefits in children and adolescents. The chapter has a specific focus on the impact of physical activity intensity on health. In the context of physical activity, physiological responses refer to how an individual’s cells, tissues, and organs adapt when they are exposed to activity of varying intensity and duration. Physiological responses to physical activity are influenced by factors such as age, sex, physical disability, and environmental conditions (Burton, Stokes, & Hall,2004; Rivera-Brown & Frontera, 2012). Exercise programs can induce varied physiological responses in individuals when the principles of training are considered and elements such as exercise frequency, intensity, duration, and mode are manipulated (Hoffman, 2002). Changes to heart rate, ventilation rate, skeletal muscle activation and energy metabolism, lactate levels,oxygen uptake, and hormonal and immune responses are typical physiological responses to aerobic and resistance exercise (Rivera-Brown & Frontera, 2012; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). The cardiovascular and respiratory systems are primarily responsible for enabling sustained movement over extended periods, with additional and specific physiological adaptations observed in these systems with long-term physical activity participation(Rivera-Brown & Frontera, 2012). The magnitude of these changes is largely contingent on the intensity and duration of the physical activity, the force or load used in training, and an individual’s baseline fitness level (Burton et al., 2004; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,1996). A reduction or cessation of physical activity or training results in the gradual loss of most physiological adaptations gained.