Studies have shown that physical activity can enhance mental health, but it’s unclear if physical fitness can prevent the development of mental health issues. A recent systematic analysis aimed to clarify this. Common mental health issues like anxiety and depression are a significant global concern, affecting overall wellbeing and happiness, and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. While counseling and medication have proven effective in some cases, they do not work for everyone. Considering the scale of mental health issues, a public health approach that prevents them before they arise would be ideal.
Researchers are exploring various factors that increase the risk of developing mental health conditions. While certain factors, such as genetics, cannot be changed, lifestyle choices like diet and physical activity can be adjusted. Investigators are particularly interested in identifying modifiable factors that could significantly impact mental health. Some are focusing on the potential benefits of physical fitness.
In a recent study, researchers investigated whether cardiorespiratory fitness could serve as a preventative measure. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the ability of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to provide oxygen during physical activity. The findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, highlighted that while a lack of physical activity is linked to a higher prevalence of common mental health issues, few studies have examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness directly correlates with mental health risk.
The researchers conducted a systematic analysis of studies that assessed the relationship between fitness and mental health risk, specifically looking at studies that tracked participants over time and evaluated their cardiorespiratory fitness in relation to the onset of depression or anxiety. The results indicated a possible dose-dependent relationship, where an increase in fitness levels was associated with a reduced risk of developing common mental health conditions. The authors hope that their study will encourage further research on the connection between fitness and mental health and are currently conducting additional studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms at play.