According to the World Health Organization (WHO), regular physical activity helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves mood, sleep, brain function, and overall health. When exercising, the body releases chemicals in the brain that make people feel more confident and positive.
These benefits don't necessarily require major changes. Walking, cycling, jogging, or participating in a favorite sport can all be suitable forms of exercise in daily life.
Data from the WHO shows that approximately 31% of adults and 80% of adolescents globally do not meet the recommended level of physical activity.
In Vietnam, the lack of physical activity among children and adolescents is also noteworthy. Up to 91% of girls and 82% of boys aged 11 to 17 do not get enough physical activity (less than 60 minutes) each day.
The WHO recognizes that anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders significantly affect the quality of life, learning ability, and productivity of millions of people.
These figures show that exercise should be viewed not only from the perspective of physical training, but also as a component in building a healthy lifestyle and supporting mental health.
For children and adolescents, prolonged screen time can affect sleep, behavior, and mental health. Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Primary Healthcare Program at PATH, believes that exercise and sports benefit health at all ages. For children and adolescents, exercise also provides opportunities for fun, connection, building self-confidence, and forming positive habits from an early age.
In the spirit of the Let's Move campaign, a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the WHO, everyone is encouraged to dedicate time to physical activity each day. Even short periods of exercise can benefit both physical and mental health.
In Vietnam, this spirit is implemented through the Sport for Public Health Partnership Initiative, launched by the IOC and WHO, and implemented by PATH in collaboration with national partners and Nghe An province.
The initiative not only organizes sports activities but also aims to create an environment that encourages regular physical activity and strengthens coordination between the health, education , and sports sectors.
According to PATH, the initiative's activities have reached over 1.2 million people through media and community outreach; supported over 229,000 students and citizens in participating in and maintaining regular physical activity; and recorded a 20.6% increase in the number of students meeting the physical activity recommendations.
On World Mental Health Day, October 10th, the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change” emphasizes listening to the real voices and experiences of each individual.
From a public health perspective, exercise can start with simple things: walking a few extra minutes, playing badminton with friends, cycling on weekends with family, or participating in sports at school or in the community.
Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien stated that through this initiative, the parties involved hope to create environments and opportunities for people to exercise regularly, safely, and enjoyably, contributing to building a healthier community both physically and mentally. Exercise, therefore, is not just a physical activity. When it becomes a habit, each movement can contribute to building a healthy lifestyle, increasing connections, and supporting mental health, especially for children and adolescents.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hoat-dong-the-chat-thuong-xuyen-giup-giam-cac-trieu-chung-lo-au-tram-cam-post794854.html
