Sports play vital role in women’s health and well-being, report finds
Updated research in Her Life Depends On It II shows fitness more important than ever for long-term health
New York, NY (Dec. 15, 2009)—The Women’s Sports Foundation has released a new and more comprehensive edition of its essential “Her Life Depends On It” report, first released in 2004. The updated version, “Her Life Depends On It II,” draws critical conclusions that further emphasize the vital roles that sports and fitness play in the physical and social health of girls and women.
The report is compiled from more than 2,000 studies examining the relationship between participation in sport and physical activity on the health of girls and women, including hundreds of new studies conducted in the five years since the last report was released. A research team of seven experts around the world, led by Dr. Ellen J. Staurowsky, Professor and Graduate Chair, Department of Sport Management and Media, Ithaca College, authored the report.
“Healthcare is a central concern in the United States right now, and the ‘Her Life Depends On It II’ report sheds fascinating light on how important prevention can be to the health of our nation,” said Jessica Mendoza, President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and Olympic gold medalist in softball. “Something as simple and fun as regularly playing sports and being physically active from an early age can be a major factor in improving the health and lives of American women.”
The key findings in the Her Life Depends II on It report include:
· Even stronger data that physical activity in girls and women is critical for women’s health and well-being
· Female participants in sports and fitness programs are at significantly lower risk for developing breast cancer, osteoporosis and depression
· Likewise, girls and women benefit socially from physical activity programs; they are less likely to smoke, do drugs and become teenage mothers
· Minorities and women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds generally participate less in athletics and fitness programs and suffer disproportionate health-related consequences
In addition to documenting the overwhelming evidence regarding the health benefits of sport and physical activity, a section of the report addresses emerging areas of research that deal with female athletes and sport-related injuries. Although more research needs to be done to better understand female athletes and rates of injuries, early findings suggest that coaches and educators should be aware of the different physiological needs of female athletes and tailor training programs accordingly.
“This report shows that we need to see more youth programs adopt gender-specific training programs,” Ms. Mendoza said. “Safety is always a top priority, and even though the risks are low compared to the benefits of participation, these methods should become standard.”
The Her Life Depends On It II report is designed to be readable and user-friendly so the public can easily navigate and digest it. The executive summary and full study are both available on the Women’s Sports Foundation web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
“The five years of new studies and data included in this report lead to the conclusion that participation in sports and long-term physical and mental health in women are inextricably linked,” Dr. Staurowsky said. “The importance of participation in sports for girls, from an early age, and throughout their lives cannot be underestimated.”