The Benefits of Exercise

Gr 7 Up—The film opens with a familiar overview of contemporary teens' busy schedules and sedentary lifestyles, including many hours spent in front of video screens. Short sections then outline the importance of cardiovascular health, muscle strength and endurance, and agility. Separate sections consider the contribution of exercise to emotional health and self-confidence. Three high school or college-age athletes—a baseball player, a distance runner, and a dancer—detail their fitness programs and discuss the benefits. These are interspersed with commentary from Dr. Cassandra Forsythe, a dietician, conditioning specialist, and author, as well as Dr. John Ratey, a psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School who specializes in the connection between physical fitness and brain function. The program concludes with a brief "Getting Started" section encouraging viewers to get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise and to find an activity that suits individual interests.