ABSTRACT
Regular physical activity is associated with improvements in health across the female lifespan. Participation in sports and physical activity during adolescence is strongly associated with adult physical activity levels. This chapter focuses on physical activity, sport, and exercise for women and girls. It deals with young girls and concluding with the impact of regular physical activity on chronic disease prevention and management in adult females. As children and adolescents spend the majority of their waking hours in school, time and environments in and around the school day present the ideal opportunity to participate in recommended levels of physical activity. An important outcome of regular physical activity, and especially school physical education, is the development and mastery of motor skills, such as kicking, throwing, and catching a ball, referred to as physical literacy. The benefits of participating in sports and physical activity are broad and numerous, including health, cognitive, social, and even economic.
