Obesity rates have climbed over the last several decades, as have mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is especially the case among children, but this particular population has not been closely researched when it comes to these issues.
A new study from Northeastern University researchers looked into this and found there is a relationship between lower body fat and higher aerobic fitness and decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression in children.
“The purpose of this analysis was to look at the implications of body composition and physical fitness,” said Lauren Raine, an assistant professor of physical therapy, movement and rehabilitation and medical sciences at Northeastern University and one of the authors on the paper. “It turns out that aerobic fitness and lean mass were both protective against negative mental health outcomes.”
The research, published in JAMA Network, began in 2019 and continued through 2023. The research team had over 200 healthy children between the ages of 8 and 11 answer standardized questionnaires about their mental health, particularly when it came to feelings of anxiety and depression. The answers were self-reported by the children to encourage honest answers.
Read more at Northeastern Global News
Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
