Benefits of Physical Education

• Reduces risk of heart disease - Physical education can counteract the 4 major risk factors of coronary heart disease: obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Improves physical fitness - Physical education improves muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and body composition (muscle to fat ratio).
• Makes bones stronger - Regular physical activity improves posture, increases bone density to create stronger bones and may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Aids in weight regulation - Regular physical activity will help regulate weight by burning calories, toning muscles and improving body composition.
• Promotes healthy active lifestyles - Physical education develops motor skills and sport skills to promote health and fitness throughout one’s life.

• Improves academic performance – Studies show when IQ’s are the same, students who have daily physical education tend to get higher grades than students who don’t.
• Increase interest in learning – Regular physical activity makes students more alert and more receptive to learning new things.
• Improves judgment – Physical education gives students practice in moral reasoning and problem solving. They learn to accept responsibility for their classmates’ safety, assume leadership in team decisions, accept moral responsibility for actions towards their teammates and develop a sense of fair play.
• Promotes self-discipline – A good program teaches students they are responsible for their own health and fitness. They learn to take control of their lives.
• Encourages goal setting – Physical education gives students the time and encouragement they need to set and strive for personal, achievable goals.

• Improves self-confidence and self-esteem – Physical education instills a stronger sense of self-worth in students. They become more confident, assertive, emotionally stable, independent and self-controlled.
• Reduces the risk of depression – A good program makes children less prone to depression and generally more optimistic about their lives.
• Strengthens peer relationships – Physical education can be major forces in helping students socialize with others more successfully. Especially during late childhood and adolescence, being able to participate in dances, games and sports is an important part of fitting in.
• Provides an outlet for stress – Physical activity becomes an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety.