Dear Editor,

Exercise is healthy for all functions of the body.

Many years ago, the majority of people walked to get to their destinations, no matter how far; however, in today’s world, more people are living sedentary lifestyles as they sit at a desk or sit at home on a sofa. All this time sitting down has repercussions for physical and mental conditions, including heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, anxiety, depression, and stress. People generally make excuses about how they do not have enough money to buy exercise machinery, how busy they are, or how tired they are.

However, a simple exercise that everyone can do daily is walking. Experts say that walking is enough physical activity to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The benefits of exercising cannot be overstated. As it turns out, physical activity also has significant benefits for both mental function and learning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behaviors.” Moreover, research has shown that exercise may have special benefits for children with learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.

It is said that there is a correlation between exercise and memory because as we exercise our bodies produce higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This protein will help to create new connections between nerve cells and also promotes the survival of existing cells. Thus, the increased levels of BDNF contribute to retaining information and forming new memories, both are extremely important if a student should do well at all levels of their academic journey.

The more exercise a person does also helps to develop their cortical mass, including a larger hippocampus, the part of the brain that stores memories.

When we exercise it also improves brain functioning and helps to boost blood flow, thus increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. From an indirect perspective, physical activity helps with learning and academic performance by reducing stress and alleviating mental health issues. Staying engaged and learning new things is often difficult for people who are experiencing high levels of stress and/or dealing with mental health issues.

So, if students from age 6-17 get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, it will boost their physical and mental health. Hence, one easy, natural, and inexpensive way to enhance life, live healthy, and perform well in school is by exercising, especially walking.

Naddrian Thyme

Northern Caribbean University

naddrian@stu.ncu.edu.jm