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Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention

  • Chapter
The Young Female Athlete

Part of the book series: Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine ((PASM))

Abstract

Regular activity is one of the most important contributors to wellness, quality of life, and disease prevention. Relatively modest amounts of activity can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, and numerous cancers. Though there are immediate benefits from physical activity, the majority of prevention and health benefits accrue when it is practiced lifelong—in addition to, and often well after, participation in organized athletics.

Yet less than half (47 %) of adult women in the USA engage in recommended levels of aerobic physical activity. In girls aged 12–15 years, only 23 % meet the recommended guidelines for youth of 60 min of moderate to vigorous-intensity activity every day.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s Disease

BMD:

Bone mineral density

BMI:

Body mass index

DM2:

Type 2 diabetes

IGF1:

Insulin-like growth factor 1

MI:

Myocardial infarction

PBM:

Peak bone mass

SCD:

Sudden cardiac death

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Acknowledgement

Drs. Nguyen and Colditz and Mr. Dart are supported by the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital STL MO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Hank Dart SM & Nhi Nguyen MD

  2. Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Hank Dart SM, Nhi Nguyen MD & Graham A. Colditz MD, DrPH

  3. Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus, Box 8100, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Graham A. Colditz MD, DrPH

Authors
  1. Hank Dart SM
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  2. Nhi Nguyen MD
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  3. Graham A. Colditz MD, DrPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Graham A. Colditz MD, DrPH .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, Boston Children’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Cynthia J. Stein

  2. Division of Sports Medicine,Department of Orthopedics, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Neuroendocrine Unit,Department of Medicine, Children’s Hospital; Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Kathryn E. Ackerman

  3. Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedics Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Andrea Stracciolini

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Dart, H., Nguyen, N., Colditz, G.A. (2016). Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention. In: Stein, C., Ackerman, K., Stracciolini, A. (eds) The Young Female Athlete. Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21632-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21632-4_12

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21632-4

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