More Teen Girls Hooked: Sports a Perfect Solution

"Participating in sports and physical activity are the most positive, viable alternatives to the perceived benefits smoking gives young women" said Dr. Sal Arria, CEO and Executive Director of the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

Santa Barbara, California (PRWEB) October 31, 2003 -- Brittney smokes because her friends think she's cool. And her friends smoke because everyone they hang out with smokes, and think they're cool. That is until they're hooked.

The fact is that smoking becomes a way for preteen and teen women to build a sense of self-identity and stay connected with their peers. It's easy for us to forget that young girls today are faced with enormous pressures to be beautiful, successful, sophisticated, thin, independent, and popular -- all seductive images that are reinforced in the movies, music videos, magazines and advertising.

"Participating in sports and physical activity are the most positive, viable alternatives to the perceived benefits smoking gives young women" said Dr. Sal Arria, CEO and Executive Director of the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) a leading fitness certification organization based in Santa Barbara, CA. "By participating in sports and physical activities, young women develop a sense of independence, achieve status with their peers, and have a chance to make friends who share the same goals. They also sleep better, control their body weight naturally, and achieve a high level of self confidence, and that's something every young girl needs."

Because so many schools have dropped physical education and sports programs for girls, Dr. Arria and the ISSA recommend starting a basic physical activity program at health clubs, under the supervision of a certified Youth Fitness Trainer. There are many clubs who employ certified Youth Fitness trainers specifically to work with the growing number of kids who need help.

"Since they're young, they respond quickly to exercise programs. In addition to helping young girls learn how to become flexible, workout with weights and aerobic equipment, certified personal trainers help them find activities they enjoy...and that's the key to sticking with exercise for life," says Dr. Arria.

Here are some well known facts about sports and young girls:

• Girls who play sports have higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of depression than girls who do not play sports.


• Girls who play sports have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well being than girls and women who do not play sports.


• Girls who play sports learn about teamwork, goal-setting, the experience of success, the pursuit of excellence in performance, how to deal with failures, and other positive behaviors -- all of which are important skills for the workplace and life.

Rochelle Yoshida
Director of Public Relations for the ISSA
Email: rochelle@issaonline.com
Toll-free: 1-800-892-4772
International: (805) 884-8111

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