Sport vs. Physical activity: what are the differences?
Sport and physical activity are often used interchangeably, but there are some key differences between the two.
According to the Plan National Nutrition Santé (PNNS) in France, physical activity is defined as “all activities that can be practiced in different contexts of daily life – physical activity at work, during travel, at home, physical activity for leisure”.
Sports into details
Purpose: The primary purpose of sport is competition. Athletes compete against each other to win.
Structure: Sports are typically organized and have rules that must be followed. This structure helps ensure that the competition is fair and that all athletes have an equal chance of winning.
Level of intensity: Sports can range in intensity from moderate to high. Some sports, such as football and basketball, are very physically demanding, while others, such as golf and bowling, are less so.
Participation: Sports can be played by individuals or teams. Individual sports, such as swimming and running, involve one person competing against others. Team sports, such as football and basketball, involve two or more teams competing against each other.
Examples: Some examples of sports include football, basketball, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, baseball, cricket, golf, hockey and rugby.
Physical activity into details
Purpose: The primary purpose of physical activity is health and enjoyment. Physical activity can help people maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve mental health.
Structure: Physical activity can be unstructured or organized. Unstructured physical activity is any activity that involves bodily movement and does not follow any specific rules or guidelines. Organized physical activity is any activity that is planned and structured, such as aerobics class or team sports.
Level of intensity: Physical activity can range in intensity from low to high. Low-intensity physical activity, such as walking or yoga, is less physically demanding than high-intensity physical activity, such as running or swimming.
Participation: Physical activity can be done by individuals or groups. Individual physical activity, such as walking or yoga, can be done alone. Group physical activity, such as team sports or aerobics classes, is done with others.
Examples: Some examples of physical activity include walking, running, dancing, biking, gardening, swimming, yoga, and tai chi.
Sport and physical activity are both important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Sport can provide a competitive outlet and a sense of accomplishment, while physical activity can help people remain healthy at all ages (1) :
It can help reduce mortality and increase quality of life.
It is a major factor in preventing chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
It can help children grow and develop harmoniously.
It can help prevent osteoporosis in women and maintain the autonomy of the elderly.
It can help control body weight in adults and children.
It is associated with improved mental health.
It can help treat chronic diseases like ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive bronchopathy, obesity and type 2 diabetes, neurological, rheumatic and degenerative diseases, etc.
It can improve the quality and quantity of sleep.
The health risks of practicing physical activity can be minimized by respecting basic precautions, appropriate medical monitoring, and competent supervision.
Being active is what counts most
No matter what type of activity you choose, it is important to make it a regular part of your life.
The best type of activity for you will depend on your individual interests and needs, both of which will inevitably vary from one lifestage to the other:
If you are interested in competing against others, then sport may be a good option for you.
If you are looking for a more relaxed and informal activity, then physical activity may be a better choice.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends you to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. You should also do strength-training exercises that work all major muscle groups on two or more days a week.
With a little effort, you can reap the many benefits of sport and/or physical activity.
So get moving with neomove and enjoy the health benefits!
(1) : Inserm – Expertise collective « Activité physique » 2008 et Anses – « Actualisation des repères du PNNS : Révisions des repères relatifs à l’activité physique et à la sédentarité », 2016