Physical Activity and Anti-aging: The Significance of Exercise at each Life Stage

Sports activities in sports clubs and extracurricular activities are the main places where children exercise, playing an important role in their healthy mental and physical development. In addition, it is characteristic that children have time for play by their own free will, not just sports activities. It has been reported that by engaging in “risky outdoor play” represented by play at high places and play with speed, increases in physical activity, decreases in sedentary behavior time, and improvements in self-esteem and concentration occur. In the physical activity guidelines formulated by WHO [1], it is recommended that children aged 5–17 “perform moderate to vigorous physical activity for 60 minutes or more per day,” so it is desirable to accumulate activities mainly through sports and play based on the guidelines. It is also important to understand the negative effects that sports activities can have on children. Table 87.1 summarizes the views of the American Academy of Pediatrics on youth competitors [2]. While many benefits can be gained from youth sports, there are facts such as that 70% of children quit sports activities by the age of 13, 50% of sports injuries are caused by overuse, and only about 0.03–0.5% can advance to the professional level. In addition, there are disadvantages brought about by early specialization in a particular sport, so it is recommended to specialize in a sport after experiencing a variety of play and sports. Sports organizations and coaches involved in youth sports, as well as parents, are required to act based on scientific evidence and not limit the future possibilities of children.