TITLE:
Transition to adulthood: A critical role for exercise in building overall well-being
AUTHORS:
Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa, Ryan Punambolam
KEYWORDS:
Physical Activity; Adult Transition Phase; S-Shaped Human Mind and Body Sigmoid Curve; Well-Being; Chronic Physical and Mental Illnesses
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.7,
July
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: A growing number of multidisciplinary studies have reported
the beneficial effects of physical activities towards the development of
overall well-being and the reduction of chronic illnesses. Physical inactivity
is a serious worldwide problem and is considered the key lifestyle factor that
negatively influences health and function of individuals. Here we propose that
growth kinetics of body and mind and associated disproportionate physical
activity may have considerable effects on the increased physical and mental
illnesses and premature death rates currently observed in mid to late adulthood
people. Children and young adults, being in exponential growth phase and
self-motivated to engage in physical activity, possess more cognition, resilience,
and mind-body-emotion-spirit integration. In contrast, as our body transitions
into adulthood, there is a decline in the growth of body and mind. Furthermore,
in this period, adults experience the increased stressors of career and
financial demands, time pressure, and family responsibilities. The decline in
growth combined with prolonged stress appears to result in reduced cognition,
resilience, and mind-body-emotion-spirit integration, leading to sedentary and
other faulty lifestyles, which could further lead to a predisposition to
maladaptive behaviours and various chronic diseases at a later stage. In
agreement with this, currently more than two thirds of the adult population
across the world are physically inactive and are failing to perform the daily
recommended guidelines of moderate to vigorous exercise. As negative changes
and faulty lifestyles begin to occur during and after adulthood transition,
creating awareness in people between 29 to 35 years of age about mindful
exercise should be considered a national priority. This would allow adults to
achieve overall well-being, and increased productivity and life expectancy, reducing
health care-associated economic burden placed on the nation.