Teen Fitness Linked to Lower Depression Risk in Adulthood, Study Reveals

Childhood fitness was assessed using various physical tests, including a 1.6-kilometre run for cardiorespiratory fitness and a standing long jump for muscular power. A smaller subset also participated in cycling and handgrip strength tests. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the findings indicate that adolescents with faster running speeds, which reflect better cardiovascular fitness, had a 15% lower relative risk of developing depression in adult life.

On average, participants completed the run in about 8 minutes and 27 seconds. The study found that running roughly 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than the average was significantly linked to this reduced risk of depression. The protective effect of cardiorespiratory fitness was strongest between five to ten years after the initial tests, gradually diminishing over time, but it remained evident throughout the 34-year follow-up.

Notably, the study observed that the protective effect of fitness was consistently stronger among females than males, who also reported higher rates of depression over their lifetimes. Kyle Smith, the study's lead author, emphasized, "While we cannot say a lack of fitness during childhood causes depression in adults, the findings suggest that childhood fitness may have benefits beyond physical health."

With the number of people living with depression nearly doubling over the past 30 years, attributed primarily to increases in anxiety and depressive disorders globally, there is a growing research focus on lifestyle factors that may help prevent or mitigate mental health issues. "Importantly, fitness is something we can change; it may be an important target for improving long-term mental health," stated Grant Tomkinson, a researcher at Adelaide University.