Physical fitness helps prevent mental health problems in youths

In children and adolescents, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness appears to have a protective effect on the risk of incident mental disorders, according to a study.

For the study, researchers used data from the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests and National Health Insurance Research Databases. They established two cohorts of young participants, one to evaluate the incidence of anxiety and depression (n=1,996,633; median age 10.6 years, 51.9 percent male) and the other to assess the incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n=1,920,596; median age 10.6 years, 51.9 percent male).

All participants underwent physical fitness assessments including cardiorespiratory fitness (800-m run time), muscular endurance (bent-leg curl-ups), muscular power (standing broad jump), and flexibility (sit-and-reach test).

Results showed a dose-dependent association, with lower cumulative incidence of mental disorders among participants in better-performing fitness quartiles.

In gender-specific analyses, better cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with decreased risks of anxiety, depression, and ADHD among female participants, and with reduced risks of anxiety and ADHD among male participants.

Greater muscular endurance was associated with lower risks of depression and ADHD among female participants, and with decreased risks of anxiety and ADHD among male participants.

Improved muscular power correlated with lower risks of anxiety and ADHD among female participants, and with reduced risks of anxiety, depression, and ADHD among male participants.