The health benefits associated with sports participation for teenage girls extend beyond a reduced risk for obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other chronic health conditions later in life.  Increased physical activity is linked to a decrease in risk-taking health behaviors which could have negative consequences for the female that last a lifetime.  Below is a summary of benefits young women obtain through sports participation. 

Impact of Sports Participation on Health Risk Behaviors of Teenage Females

• Reduced risk for teen pregnancy.  According to the website of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, non-athletic teenage females are more than twice as likely to become pregnant than their athletic counterparts. 
• Decreased use of illicit drugs.  Female athletes are less likely to use cocaine, marijuana, heroin, speed, PCP, and LSD compared to teen females who do not participate in sports.
• Less likely to smoke cigarettes.
• Greater likelihood of wearing a seatbelt. According to The Women's Sports Foundation Report: Health Risks and The Teen Athlete, athletic females are 1/3 times more likely to wear seatbelts when riding in vehicles than their nonathletic counterparts.
• Reduced risk for committing suicide.  This lower risk may be due, in part, to the fact that athletic females have higher levels of self-esteem than their nonathletic counterparts.

Sports participation can be a win-win situation for the teenage female.  Unfortunately, research shows that girls are less likely to be active than boys.  Attempts should be made to help the young female find activities she enjoys. 

Sources for more information
The Women's Sports Foundation
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy