Increased Physical Fitness may Reduce Mental Disorder Risks in Youth: JAMA

A comprehensive nationwide cohort study in Taiwan found significant relationship between various components of physical fitness and a decreased risk of mental disorders among children and adolescents. The key findings were published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

The study utilized extensive data from the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests and National Health Insurance Research Databases and spanned from 2009 to 2019 with detailed follow-ups. This research analyzed the health records of nearly 4 million participants and grouped them into two main cohorts based on their risk for anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Each cohort consisted of children aged 10 to 11 years at the time of their initial assessment and followed for a minimum of 3 years with an average follow-up period of 6 years.

Physical fitness was assessed through multiple tests, including an 800-meter run to gauge cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), bent-leg curl-ups for muscular endurance (ME), standing broad jump for muscular power (MP) and sit-and-reach tests to measure flexibility. The study then tracked the incidence of anxiety, depression and ADHD among these cohorts and correlated the outcomes with their physical fitness levels.

The results revealed that better performance across fitness tests was linked with lower incidences of these mental disorders. The improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness were linked with reduced risks of anxiety, depression and ADHD in females, and anxiety and ADHD in males. Also, a 30-second reduction in 800-m run times significantly reduced these risks.

Increase in muscular endurance and power also showed protective effects in this research. When adding five more curl-ups per minute was tied to decreased risks of depression and ADHD in females and reduced anxiety and ADHD risks in males. Also, a 20-centimeter improvement in the broad jump was connected with reduced risks of anxiety and ADHD in females and a decrease in all 3 studied disorders in males.

The findings suggest a dose-dependent relationship between physical fitness and mental health by emphasizing the importance of physical fitness as a potential preventive tool to manage mental disorders in youth. The observed gender-specific differences also highlight the need for tailored physical fitness programs that address the distinct needs of young boys and girls. This study underlines the urgent need for integrating physical fitness into the daily routine of children not just for the physical health benefits but also for its mental health advantages.

Results:

Chiang, H.-L., Chuang, Y.-F., Chen, Y.-A., Hsu, C.-T., Ho, C.-C., Hsu, H.-T., Sheu, Y.-H., Gau, S. S.-F., & Liang, L.-L. (2024). Physical Fitness and Risk of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents. In JAMA Pediatrics. American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0806