Physical Activity and Screen-based Activity in Healthy Development of School-aged Children

Abstract

Vigorous physical activity is positively associated with healthy development of adolescents. Screen-based behaviour shows an inverse relationship with adolescents' healthy development, especially in the group of 11 and 13 years old children. Supporting physical activity conducive environments might lead to a reduction in screen-based behaviour in adolescents and should be highlighted in health-promoting strategies.

Exercise as a Prevention for Substance Use Disorder: a Review of Sex Differences and Neurobiological Mechanisms

“…Similar associations are also revealed in recent cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, but with effects that differ between males and females and populations/cultures (4,6–7; Table 1). For example, in Polish high-school students, regular physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in males, but not females (7); whereas, in Slovak and Czech high-school students, physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in females, but not males (4,6).…”

“…For example, in Polish high-school students, regular physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in males, but not females (7); whereas, in Slovak and Czech high-school students, physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in females, but not males (4,6). While socio-cultural factors likely contribute these differential effects (20), levels of exercise/physical activity also differ between males and females and populations (4,6–7); thus, exercise may interact with socio-cultural factors to differentially influence the use to drugs in males versus females within different populations.…”

“…Associations between exercise/physical activity and drug use can also vary between studies based on how exercise/physical activity is defined (4–7). For example, while physical activity specifically related to exercise/sports was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use, overall levels of physical activity, which includes exercise/sports as well as everyday physical activities during work and leisure time, was not associated with cigarette or marijuana use, and actually predicted at-risk alcohol use (5).…”

“…The few recent studies that have examined sex differences have focused on middle- and high-school students, with conflicting results that vary between populations (4,6–7). Recent findings also suggest that risk of drug use from participating in certain sports differs between males and females, with evidence for reduced risk in females (13).…”

“…Evidence supporting exercise as a prevention for substance use disorder is indicated by epidemiological data demonstrating a negative association between levels of exercise/physical activity and risk of smoking and illicit drug use in adolescent and young adult males and females (4–7). Results from studies in male and female animals corroborate these findings, and demonstrate that exercise, such as wheel and treadmill running, decrease the acquisition of drug self-administration and levels of drug use (e.g., 8).…”