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Why football is good for you
2 July 2003
There's been a lot of interest in David Beckham's medical check over the last couple of days. This is unsurprising given that, despite his transfer to Real Madrid he is staying on as England captain and the sport remains one of the most popular in the UK today.
"International footballers are some of the fittest athletes around and the game is an excellent part of any fitness programme. We would expect a professional footballer to come out on top in the fitness stakes emphasising just how comprehensive their training is." comments Dr Peter Mace, clinical director at Bupa Wellness.
It is well documented that regular physical activity promotes health, and research suggests that exercise reduces the chances of contracting certain chronic diseases to promote longer life. For instance playing football will reduce the risk of heart disease, with recent studies showing that people who do not exercise at all were more in danger of having a heart attack than all other people, and the possibility decreased significantly with increasing activity.
The good news is that the benefits of playing football regularly will occur regardless of whether someone smokes, drinks or eats the wrong foods. Studies have found that the effects of physical activity on the likelihood of someone having a heart attack were not affected by other cardiovascular risk factors.
Football can also help with weight loss. Following a balanced diet is important, but it will never be completely effective by itself. Becoming fitter through football helps to burn fat for two main reasons - it increases the body's metabolism and helps to increase fat-burning enzymes.
"During a game of football you burn off fat, and you will continue to burn an increased amount of calories after the game because exercise increases your metabolic rate by 10 per cent for
approximately 48 hours after exercise. This residual effect of playing football plays a useful role in burning calories and helping with weight loss." said Dr Mace.
Football can improve your mood and self-esteem and lower stress levels so having a positive effect on your mental as well as physical health. Regular exercise has been shown to lower perceived stress and improves mood and self-esteem. The best news of all is that most people will benefit from a general fitness programme.
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