Moderate, Regular Physical Activity Reduces Odds of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents
Physical activity has been associated with lower risk for and improved symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults. A study published in the Journal of Adolescence examined the relationship between anxiety, depression, and physical activity in Irish teens between 15 and 17 years of age. The study included 481 people.The results showed that about 21% had anxiety, and indicated that 37% were probable for depression. Both anxiety and depression symptoms were higher among less active teens (60 minutes of exercise daily for 0-2 days per week) compared to moderately and highly active teens (60 minutes/day for 3-4 and 5-6 days per week respectively). Compared to low active teens, moderate active teens had 30% lower odds of being depressed, and highly active teens had 56% lower odds. For anxiety, moderate and highly active teens had 46% and 47% lower odds respectively.Health clubs provide safe, supportive, and engaging place for teens to be active on a regular basis.
Health Club Membership Linked to Higher Activity Levels, Better Cardiovascular Outcomes
The relationship between physical activity and heart health is widely accepted. The researchers analyzed data on 204 health club members and compared it to data from 201 non-members. The results indicated that the odds of meeting both resistance and aerobic physical activity guidelines recommendations was 13.8 times higher among health club members compared to non-members. The odds of meeting aerobic or resistance recommendations were 16.5 and 10.1 times higher among gym members, respectively. Health club membership had positive impacts on several of the cardiovascular markers studied, including resting heart rate, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Health clubs provide a safe, supportive place to be active, and membership may increase the likelihood of getting sufficient physical activity to benefit health.
Physically Active People Are Happier: Data From 15 Countries
Research demonstrates that physical activity has beneficial impacts on mental health, and some evidence suggests that happiness can help increase resilience to emotional anxieties. A study published in the journal BMC Public Health assessed the links between physical activity volume and self-reported happiness. Data was sourced from 15 countries and included over 11,000 people. Researchers found that, when compared to inactive people, there was a dose-response relationship between physical activity and happiness. This means that as activity increased, so did happiness. In terms of intensity, small associations between exercise and happiness were found for walking and vigorous activity but none for moderate activity. The strongest associations were for “a lot of” activity, domestic activity (e.g. gardening) and “a lot” of leisure time activity. Active commuting did not appear to be linked with happiness.
Article from: IHRSA