HEALTH AWARENESS AND ASSESSMENT AMONG LEARNERS INVOLVING PHYSICAL FITNESS IN IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DAISY B. BAAY

Caring and awareness in our health is a very important aspect in our lives. It gives us the necessary obligation of being conscious enough of handling our individual capacities. To improve health and fitness effectively through physical activity or exercise, we need to understand how this comes about. For many of these changes, the stimulus has been grossly defined in terms of type, intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise, but for others a dose-response relationship has not been determined. Physical activity that appears to provide the most diverse health benefits consists of dynamic, rhythmical contractions of large muscles that transport the body over distance or against gravity at a moderate intensity relative to capacity for extended periods of time during which 200 to 400 kilocalories (or 4 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight) are expended. For optimal health benefits, such activity should be performed daily or at least every other day and should be accompanied with some heavy resistance and flexibility exercises. The greatest benefits are achieved when the least active individuals become moderately active; much less benefit is apparent when the already active individual becomes extremely active. Overexertion or inappropriate exercise can produce significant health risks. Research is needed to characterize better the health-promoting features of physical activity and exercise. Learners nowadays were more engaged with the modern technology involving themselves most of their time in playing mobile games and browsing from social media. It became a habitual daily routine ending up removing the factor for health awareness. Resulting for them to encounter unnecessary illness that really affecting their personal lives and especially their health condition. In lieu with that, learners also became unaware that out from their unconscious behavior of forgetting their health their school performance is also being affected. Physical fitness really is a big factor to consider especially in improving once academic performance. Physical activity was associated with numerous health benefits. The dose-response relations observed in observational studies indicate that the more physical activity, the greater the health benefit. Results from experimental studies indicate that even modest amounts of physical activity can have health benefits in high-risk youngsters (e.g., obese). To achieve substantive health benefits, the physical activity should be of at least a moderate intensity. Vigorous intensity activities may provide even greater benefit. Aerobic-based activities had the greatest health benefit, other than for bone health, in which case high-impact weight bearing activities were required. Clinical, epidemiological and basic research evidence clearly supports the inclusion of regular physical activity as a tool for the prevention of chronic disease and the enhancement of overall health. In children, activities of a moderate intensity may enhance overall health, and assist in preventing chronic disease in at-risk youth. The numerous health benefits of regular exercise are dependent on the type, intensity and volume of activity pursued by the individual. These benefits include reduction of low-density lipoproteins while increasing high density lipoprotein; improvement of glucose metabolism in patients with type II diabetes; improved strength, self-esteem and body image; and reduction in the occurrence of back injuries. In addition, a progressive, moderate-intensity exercise program will not adversely affect the immune system and may have a beneficial effect on the interleukin-2/natural killer cell system. Furthermore, by decreasing sedentary behaviors and, thus, increasing daily physical activity, individuals may experience many stress-reducing benefits, which may enhance the immune system. Health awareness and assessment could give and lead learners to have a better fitness program that could definitely guide them in having a more responsible and pleasing lifestyle that they deserve. That will eventually can be a big factor to improve their academic performance. Giving themselves a better opportunity in life and an ideal future with success and conceptual understanding about the importance of healthy living making it as a habit for change.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS TEACHER I AT STA.ANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, SAN AGUSTIN, STA. ANA, PAMPANGA