Knowledge of the Influence of Lifestyle on Fitness Promotion Among Secondary School Students
Abstract of Knowledge of the Influence of Lifestyle on Fitness Promotion Among Secondary School Students
viA declining level of physical activity and preponderance of unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents and youths are presently a public health concern, in view of the long term implications of present levels of physical inactivity and prevalent unhealthy lifestyles. This research study was carried out to assess the influence of knowledge of lifestyle on fitness promotion among Edo State Secondary School Students. A field survey was carried out involving 150 respondents randomly drawn from five schools in the Benin Metropolis. Responses from the participants were analysed using the Chi Square test. Results showed that students posses a low level of knowledge of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion. Hence it was also found that students lead lifestyles that do not promote their fitness and even overall wellbeing, neither do students meet recommended levels ofphysical activities. In the view of the foregoing, it was basically recommended that all stakeholders including the government, school administrations, health organisations and parents should in their different roles, help in promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles as well as increased physical activity by secondary school students and youths in general.
Chapter One of Knowledge of the Influence of Lifestyle on Fitness Promotion Among Secondary School Students
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The wellbeing of any individual can be said to be mainly an offshoot or a function of one’s lifestyle and practices over a long period of time spanning childhood, teenage or adolescence and adulthood. This same view is corroborated by Adesina (2012), who acknowledged a growing conviction that adults’ health and wellbeing have their origin in behaviour established during childhood and there is a general agreement that youths should be encouraged to adopt active lifestyles which can be sustained into adult life. Adopting a lifestyle that promotes physical fitness have always been emphasized, given that physical fitness is one of the key signs of optimal wellness and health. Olubayo-Fatiregun, Ayodel and Olorunisola (2014) stressed that the status of health that one enjoys at a given time is determined by multifaceted factors in which physical activity plays a vital role and the interaction of all these factors determines the level of fitness and wellness an individual might experience at any given time.
Lifestyle simply is one’s typical way of living that is usually expressed in coping with one’s physical, psychological, social, and economic environments on a day-to-day basis. Shehu, Onasanya, Onigbinde, Ogunsakin and Baba (2013) defined lifestyle “as the sum total of individuals’ ways of life. In a context relevant to our study, Shehuet. al (2013) further explained lifestyle as the “behavior of choice” which affects ones fitness and health status. They further opined that individual lifestyle constitutes what he/she eats, drinks, smoker, physical activity or inactivity, protected and unprotected sexual behaviour and drug habit. The Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary defined lifestyle as “the set of habits and customs that is influenced by the life-long process of socialization, including social use of substances such as alcohol and tobacco, dietary habits, and exercise, all of which have important implications for health” (Lifestyle, 2012).
There exists a wide prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle-related behaviours that often lead to lifestyle diseases that result because of choices people make in their lives. Poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking, overuse of alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical activity and inadequate relief of chronic stress are key contributors in the development and progression of preventable chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer (Golubic, 2013). Similarly, Egger (2008) opined that four main causes – excess weight, poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking – account for most of the mortality and morbidity of the major diseases of modern society, including heart disease and stroke, diabetes, cancer, depression, and kidney disease.
From the foregoing, one can easily see the far-reaching implications of lifestyle for people’s overall health and wellness. Ironically, promoting healthy lifestyles is a major challenge for many primary care practices, medical practitioners and establishments as well as international health organisations . Although most patients understand the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, many seem unable to change their unhealthy behaviours to reduce weight and improve chronic conditions (Clarke, 2013).
Unhealthy lifestyles are the major cause of illness and death in our country creating an enormous burden to our society. In an attempt to provide a snapshot of lifestyle in Nigeria, the World Health Organisation reported that too many Nigerians eat an unhealthy diet, are overweight and sedentary, smoke, manage stress ineffectively, have uncontrolled blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, are physically inactive, and above all, do not know the signs of cardiovascular diseases (Obasuyi&Agwubike, 2012).
All aspects of health and lifestyle behaviours are interrelated. Thus, a healthy lifestyle is often advocated by medical practitioners and establishments as well as international health organisations wherein people are encouraged to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, reduce fat, sugar and salt intake and exercise (World Health Organisation, 2014). However, physical fitness stands as a prominent measure of optimum mental and physical health achieved through a healthy lifestyle.
Brandon et al (2002) defined physical fitness as a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities to be healthy, to resist hypokinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations. Also physical fitness is defined by as a state of well-being with low risk of premature health problems and possessions of reserved energy to participate in varieties of physical activities (Howley and Franks, 1997; Crespo, Ainsworth, Keteyian, Health & Smith, 1999).
The Global Burden of Disease Study carried out in 2010 showed that more young and middle-aged adults are developing ‘non-communicable’ diseases such as cancer, fuelled by a rise in smoking, alcohol use and obesity (Cancer Research UK, 2012). The above report brings the lifestyle and physical inactivity of teenagers and young adults into focus which also is the basic focus of this research study.
Onifade (2001) was convinced that many Nigerians today are living sedentary lives lacking in physical and vigorous activities. Abubakari and Bhopal (2008) reported that between 25-57% of all Nigerians are physically inactive. Additionally, two separate studies among young adults (15-49 years) in Nigeria showed 38% and 41% prevalence of physically inactivity (Alawode, 2012).
Olubayo-Fatiregun, Ayodele, and Olorunisola (2014) held the view that Nigerian youths are becoming more inactive due to the introduction of high technology bringing about an increased use of video games, films and television, the decline of opportunities for games and physical activities in schools, and concerns for safety outside home, leading to youths finding themselves living sedentary lifestyles. They further stressed a steadily declining state of physical fitness, aerobic fitness, and participation in regular activity during the transition from secondary school age to high school adolescents as demonstrated mainly in early maturing females and overweight youths in Nigeria. Thus, Shehu et al (2013) acknowledges the increasing prevalence of obesity in Nigeria particularly in the Universities, with sedentary behaviour patterns and excessive fat in the diet identified as the factors that appeared to be most responsible.
An unhealthy lifestyle of poor feeding, physical inactivity and poor physical fitness and its associated health problems have substantial consequences to health care system in both developed and developing countries. For Nigeria, the impact of physical inactivity and poor physical fitness is an impending disaster for the health and medical society as well as the general economy in terms of increased medical bills and lost wages on the part of Nigerians when they fall ill with lifestyle-related diseases. Nigeria has a high youth population. Results from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey in 2008 shows that 53.2% of Nigerians are below 5 years of age to 24 (National Population Commission and ICF Macro, 2009). Same survey results show that children aged 10-19 years accounts for up to 20.7% of the Nigerian population. High levels of physical inactivity have also been reported amongst teenagers (10-19) and youths (15-24) in Nigeria. Studying the level of knowledge or awareness of the influence of lifestyle on fitness promotion among secondary school students is the basic focus of this research study.