Olympic fever – good for our health?

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Guys, I have a confession to make – I am absolutely HOOKED on all things Olympics this year! I’ve been glued to the television every morning for the last few weeks, soaking up every Today show segment on London and athletes and opening ceremony scoop and medal predictions. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I spent a month in England this summer? Who knows.

Before Taylor carried the Olympic torch in Nottingham last month!

All I know is that I cannot wait for tomorrow night. The next seventeen days will be filled with heartbreak and triumph, in a peaceful cooperation among nations that only the Olympics can promote. It really is such a magical time!

At first glance, it would seem that Olympic fever is good for our health. It should inspire us to get out and exercise, to eat healthy, to take care of our bodies the way the world-class athletes on television do. Watching the track events should make us want to go out for a jog. Seeing Michael Phelps dominate in the pool should make us want to hit the pool for a swim.

That’s what I thought anyway! Until I read RealBuzz’s post yesterday about the Olympics and our health. They postulated that the Olympics actually make us less healthy, because they promote 2+ weeks of sitting on our behinds glued to the tube.

While I understand the point that they are trying to make, I’m not sure that I agree fully. In my opinion, any display of health and fitness on television is good. It inspires us to be better. Even if we spend a few extra hours a day in front of the TV for those two weeks, the long-term benefits are much more important! I have no delusions of ever being an Olympic athlete. But I do know that watching them perform such athletic feats will definitely inspire me to step up my workout game a little bit after the fact.

And casting aside this physical argument about our health, there is a huge mental component for us as viewers also. For me, watching the Olympics falls squarely into the fourth FitFluential category – ENJOY. Enjoying the spirit of the games is good for my soul, regardless of whether it encourages me to MOVE more. And that is a gold medal in my book!

What do you guys think? Are the Olympics good or bad for our health, or simply neutral?

 

13 thoughts on “Olympic fever – good for our health?”

  1. Oh good, I am not the only obsessed one, lol! I love the Olympics and I adore Dara Torres & Lolo Jones. I agree with you–it should inspire us to be more active! But I can see where they are coming from. Hopefully after watching an Olympic event, people are inspired to go run or something. One can only hope :)

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  2. That’s interesting. I thought it would have done good things for health too by inspiring people to be more fit and healthy, as well. It does make sense though that people will end up watching more TV. But how can it not be motivating? I know it motivates me! Can’t wait to watch. :)

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    • Glad you agree Angie! Bummer that you’ll miss part of the games, but I think it’s overall a positive thing for people to witness and be a part of

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  4. I think the opposite is true for me. Watching sports inspires me – I always have ESPN on when I’m in the gym doing cardio! But I do get your point… especially when bars around town turn event into shot-taking games. LOL!

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  7. We’re obsessed too, I can’t wait! I don’t think it is bad for our health, but if some people watching it don’t do anything after to become active/healthy then maybe it is bad.

    I guess I am neutral on it because while inspiring I’m not sure if just the Olympics would be enough to get people to be active. I think that for those already active we will continue to do so during it and those who aren’t won’t.

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