The Emotional Benefits Of Physical Activity In Kids

Along with enjoying improved health, physically active children may be better able to cope with stressful situations.

That’s the conclusion of a recent study accepted for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. When children who are sedentary face everyday pressures, such as speaking in front of a class, they may have surges of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Active children have little or no increase in cortisol levels when stressed.

Researchers in Finland, who studied about 250 children, suggest that physical activity protects children from the effects of stress.