Sport, exercise and physical activity can bring significant health benefits and lead to substantial reductions in societal costs. The greater the risk of ill health, the greater the benefits of sport.
People who play sport are healthier, commit fewer crimes and drink less alcohol. It also reduces the economic burden on society. Research shows that regular exercise has effects such as reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease, reduced risk of fractures, improved balance and coordination, reduced risk of repetitive strain injuries and more. Young people who play sport have better self-esteem, commit fewer crimes and drink less alcohol than their peers who are not involved in sports clubs. In older people, exercise helps to reduce the risk of dementia. The Swedish Sports Confederation has commissioned 16 researchers to conduct 13 reviews of research into the social benefits of sport.
The text above is an excerpt from The Social Benefits of Sport - a summary, which you can read here.
On the website of the Swedish Sports Confederation you can read more and read the research report The social benefits of sport in its entirety
