Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Girls and Women, The

Research has clearly demonstrated many positive health benefits of regular physical activity. However, research in this area has tended to emphasize the importance of physical activity from a sport, exercise and recreation perspective and has not fully explored the implications of physical activity for disease prevention, management and rehabilitation. These gaps are particularly relevant in understanding girls' and women's physical activity.

In an attempt to integrate what is known about the health benefits of physical activity for girls and women, a multidisciplinary team of 12 researchers and an advisory committee with representation from government and nongovernmental health and advocacy organizations worked together with the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health to gather relevant information regarding the health benefits and risks of physical activity for girls and women. This report tackled the complex relationship between health and physical activity in the context of girls' and women's lives through a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach and addressed the following areas:

* psychosocial health and well-being

* body image and self-esteem

* eating disorders

* smoking cessation and drug rehabilitation

* cardiovascular disease and hypertension

* osteoporosis

* estrogen-related cancers

* menopausal symptoms

* fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

The Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Girls and Women: Literature Review and Recommendations for Future Research and Policy is a multi-disciplinary portrayal of what is known about the benefits and risks of physical activity and inactivity for the health status of girls and women. By making linkages between some of the most prevalent health issues facing girls and women today, the study demonstrates the possibilities and potential for inter-disciplinary research. For example, research has demonstrated ten times more women than men experience eating disorders and almost three times as many women than men use smoking as a way to control their weight. If a girl or woman maintains an unhealthy body weight through restricted caloric intake or by suppressing her appetite by smoking, she is at far greater risk for poor bone mineral density and osteoporosis. As well, coronary heart disease, a leading cause of death for older women, has been indisputably linked to smoking tobacco. This multi-disciplinary analysis demonstrates that osteoporosis and heart disease are linked to body image and self-esteem and suggests the need to address body image issues as a way of preventing these diseases.

In each of the health issues examined, the findings emphasize the importance of considering the relationship between the various types and contexts of physical activity and health status, and its relationship to girls and women's diversity. The report also identifies future research strategies and policy implications to support and improve the health and well-being of girls and women.

A copy of the full report, The Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Girls and Women: Literature Review and Recommendations for Future Research and Policy, can be downloaded at: www.bccewh.bc.ca/Pages/pubspdflist4.htm, or contact:

British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health

BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre

E311-4500 Oak Street

Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3N1

www.bccewh.bc.ca

Tel: (604) 875-2633

Fax: (604) 875-3716

bccewh@cw.bc.ca

Colleen Reid, Lesley Dyck, Heather McKay and Wendy Frisby, British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health

Copyright Centres of Excellence for Women's Health Spring 2005
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