This is our 25th Blog post with our teens in our new series Your Voice Matters. Today we have Miles who is talking about Staying Active During Covid.

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Miles is from Romeoville

I am writing about the importance of physical fitness and activity; a cause I am passionate about and have been throughout my middle and high school years. Everyone should be active, regardless of body type or BMI – and even during this pandemic. I’ve summarized a few benefits of physical activity and I hope other teens may find it helpful during COVID. Staying fit can save money. The CDC estimates treating people with chronic illness accounts for almost 90% of health care costs. Making healthy choices and staying active can help reduce the chances of certain chronic illnesses later in life, saving money from expensive health care. Staying fit can increase life expectancy. Research studies have shown that people who participate in regular exercise are often happier and tend to live longer as well. Staying fit can improve quality of life. Research shows that a lack of exercise not only can increase your chance of chronic disease, but can also lead to mental health issues. Regular exercise and physical activity on a weekly basis can prevent some of these problems, by improving mood and mental health. These are just some of the many benefits of staying active. I hope these points can encourage people about the importance of regular physical activity and fitness goals. I also hope others might become as passionate about physical activity and fitness as I am. My sport of choice is soccer; I absolutely love it. I hope others write back about a sport or activity they are passionate about, too.