MAKING A DIFFERENCE

• Team sports can result in lifelong improvements to your educational, career, and health prospects.

• Being obese makes you more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol

   or high blood pressure.

• Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating & physical activity, can lower your risk of  becoming obese 

   & developing related diseases.

• Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies

   and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn

   about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behavior.

• High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in an unintended pregnancy; more likely to

   get better grades in school and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports.
    
• Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels

   of depression.
    
• Girls and women who play sports have a more positive body image and experience higher states

   of psychological well-being than girls and women who do not play sports.

• New research shows that joining athletics may be a catalyst for success in other areas of life,

   especially for young girls.