Youth sport leads to more physical activity in old age
Published: Tuesday, Oct 15th 2024, 14:40
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People who discovered sport at a young age are more likely to remain physically active in old age than those without this experience. This truism has now been confirmed by a long-term study conducted by several institutes.
By evaluating the exercise behavior of around 2,300 children and young people from all over Switzerland between 2014 and 2019/20, it was possible to draw representative conclusions about the long-term development of this behavior, as detailed in a press release issued by the Federal Office of Sport (Baspo) on Tuesday.
The study was conducted by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in collaboration with the Institute of Sports Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL) and the University of Italian-speaking Switzerland (USI). It was supported by the Baspo in terms of content and funding.
The researchers found that participation in sports activities of the Y+S sports promotion program strongly influenced the physical activity and sports behaviour of children and adolescents over a period of five years. Children who took part in organized sports activities were more likely to maintain their physical activity behaviour as they grew older than children who did not take part in any Y+S sports activities.
According to the Federal Office of Sport, organized sport in Switzerland has been supported for over 50 years by Y+S, the largest sports promotion programme of the Baspo, which is aimed at children and young people between the ages of 5 and 20. The program supports around 85 sports and disciplines and over 600,000 participants annually with around 100 million Swiss francs.
Regular physical activity has numerous health benefits such as a reduced risk of chronic diseases, better mental health, a higher quality of life and improved mental function, which is also reflected in better academic performance, emphasizes the Baspo. This is why promoting and maintaining physical activity among young people as a means of long-term health promotion is a public health priority.
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