Correlación positiva entre la práctica de ejercicio físico y la mejora de la imagen corporal y la calidad de vida

Resumen

An increasingly sedentary lifestyle of the population in developed countries, associated with other factors such as increased stress, poor diet or environmental pollution, increases the incidence of chronic diseases, immunosuppressive pathologies or alterations in body weight, as well as mortality and morbidity, also influencing the psychological and social spheres. The aim of this review is to check the extent to which physical exercise conditions or improves people’s body image and quality of life. To this end, a bibliographic search of the databases was carried out: Pubmed, Scielo and ScienceDirect. A total of 12 original articles were analyzed that addressed the relationship between physical exercise and quality of life, in adolescent children or adults with no specific pathology limiting exercise, written in Spanish and English during the years 2012 and 2018. Of the included studies, all reflect positive effects with the practice of moderate exercise (30 minutes of minimum duration between 3 and 5 times a week) or intense exercise (during 20 minutes 3 days a week) in a regular way. In fact, the increase in quality of life is directly related to the practice of sports. The most recommended type of exercise is aerobic, although strength and/or endurance exercise is also recommended. It has also been observed that regular exercise helps reduce stress, improve interpersonal relationships and social skills, directly influencing mood, personal self-esteem and self-concept. For this reason, it is fundamental that in the clinical practice of the health professional, healthy habits of life are promoted.