Teens need a push when it comes to exercise

Does your teen want to exercise but need support?

Exercise sometimes doesn’t class as a priority in the life of a teenager but with it having so many benefits, it shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s a strange time for everyone - you are growing, keeping up with schoolwork, keeping up with your social life and all while having to deal with adults (we aren’t that bad really).

So how can exercise help and how do we get teenagers to participate?

This is a vital time for a person to build healthy habits that they will take into adulthood. If a teenager gets into the habit of incorporating exercise and a healthy diet early on, they will continue to reap the benefits for the rest of their life. This will help with weight control and avoid obesity which is an epidemic throughout the world.

Furthermore, exercise can really help with mental health. Mental health problems in teenagers has risen dramatically in the last decade. Anxiety and depression are especially common in teenagers and can be due to many factors. Two common factors are being stressed and having a poor body image, both can be helped by exercise. In a social media world, body image can be a real issue for young teenagers with famous celebrities showing off their chiselled bodies and photoshopped appearances and it can have a real impact on how a young person views themselves.

Attending the gym or getting involved in physical activity will allow them to pursue the body they want and increase their self-esteem, while allowing them to get into healthy habits, sometimes without even realising it.

Exercise also releases endorphins which improve mood and reduces anxiety while improving fitness and overall health. This chemical is needed by everyone but with a fast-paced life and a developing brain, they are vital for a teenager to develop a healthy and happy mindset.

The question is then ‘how do we get them to participate?’. The simple answer is to help them find a form of exercise they enjoy. A lot of the time, you will find that boys are more interested in strength training and girls are more attracted to classes and aerobic-style exercise. This is only natural with these types of training adhering to the most popular body type for each gender but a variety of both should be encouraged for maximum benefits. Remember, they will only stick to it if they enjoy it.

Another great way to get teenagers into physical activity is to lead by example. If you are going to the gym a few times a week, why not invite them along with you? Show them the ropes and get them involved. If you go to a class every week, see if they are interested and take them along.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager, we have memberships suited for young adults here at Kate Campbell Fitness. If you are between the ages of 15-17, we offer a gym membership for £18 a month with no joining fee. If you are a student and above the age of 18 then we offer a 12-month gym membership for £27 a month and also no joining fee.

Cancel at any time with 30 days’ notice.

Jordan Linnell