Benefits of Exercise to Kids’ Health (Cycling as a case study of types of exercise).

By Olayemi Joel

From childhood to adolescence, cycling is a beneficial part of human existence: Riding a bike to classroom is fun to be honest. Racing on the field in a track event is just as fun as you can imagine. Cycling also helps in reducing weight. Cycling generally is used for the purpose of transport, recreation, sport and exercise.

Cycling is more interesting during childhood. Kids love to ride on their bikes, bicycle or tricycle every now and then: cycling gives them the freedom they so crave; kids always love to be explosive, adventurous and audacious in nature. Give a child the chance to make a wish, and what you’d probably get as a response is “Mum, I want a bicycle” or “Dad, all I want is a tricycle.”

Cycling is a friendlier and easier form of exercise for kids than the other rigorous forms of exercise out there. They tend to spend hours riding on bikes across the neighborhood without even knowing in the process that their bodies get the needed refreshment from the cycling activities.

A recent study in Australia has it that in the last two decades, the number of unhealthy children all over the world is increasing at an alarming rate. This is more reason why more kids have to be involved in riding bicycles and tricycles.

What are the benefits of Cycling as a form of exercise for Kids?

1.       Brain Growth.

A study in United Kingdom says that many teachers reported that kids who cycle to school are more alert and ready to learn than those who arrive by car.

Cycling as a form of exercise helps in neurogenesis: the formation and growth of new brain cells. As a result of this, the brains of kids who are involved in cycling are more active. They have more long term and short term potentiation: Learning and memory improves faster and better. As kids ride on their bikes, Blood flow to the arteries and veins in the brain is enhanced. These translates that they are able to perform better in their studies than the rest of the kids who don’t exercise.

2.       Weight loss.

Cycling is an easier form of exercise which helps kids to shed excess fats and maintain an healthy body composition. A lot of children are overweight and obese without undergoing any form of exercise. Obese kids are very prone to unpleasant body figure – which could lead to depression. Cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis, cardiac failure, are also related to kids who are over-weight and obese. Riding on a cycle does not leave any chance for excess fats to reside in the adipose tissues or the body of kids.

3.       Muscle Building and Strength.

    Gradually as kids engage in riding bikes, they tend to become more muscular in nature. There muscle cells proliferates due to the rigorous activity of cycling. A research study showed that a number of test subjects who were made to ride continuously for a period of time; coupled with a nutrition routine, built more muscles in their body than those who were not exercising. Cycling increases the endurance of the muscles, it enables the muscles to become tougher and stronger.

4.       Strengthens the Lungs Capacity.

This is one of obvious benefits of cycling. When kids ride on their cycles, they are able to respire better: air moves in and out of their nose easily. There lung capacities are enhanced. More oxygen from the environment is being drawn to the lung for exchange with carbon dioxide from the body. This ensures the overall well-being of our children.

5.       Prevents Cancer.

Cancer is mostly caused by toxicity. The incidence of cancer can be prevented by regular exercise. When kids ride on their cycles, blood flow is increased considerably in their bodies: this ensures that waste products are not being stored which may result in the incident of cancer. Some people who are diagnosed of this horrible condition were not exercising during their childhood. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association recently looked into 14,000 people and concluded that those with a higher fitness level were at a lower risk for long and colorectal cancer.

6.       Social Well-being.

Kids who cycle are well motivated and filled with energy at home. The coupled effect of the exercise on the brains, muscles and other aspects of their bodies make them to interact better in their schools, environment, and wherever they are located. Since cycling is the best form of exercise for kids, those who don’t engage in it may be lagging behind in their ability to interact and contribute to their environment effectively.

7.       Prevents High Blood Pressure.

Kids who cycle have little or no tendency to develop high blood pressure as time goes on. Thanks to the fact that they are able to exercise very well while riding their bikes; the heart rate, cardiac output and stroke volume are regulated as normal by the body in the process. A study in medicine and science in sport and exercise spent five years looking at the activity of 1,500 subjects. Those who were active in exercise on a daily basis were 31-percent less likely to develop high blood pressure.

In conclusion, considering all the massive benefits listed above, it is very advisable for parents to get their kids bicycles and tricycles. 

What's your take on the benefits of cycling to kids' health? 

Kindly share in the comments section.