Exercise and mental health are two factors that have a direct impact on our mood, many studies suggest that exercise can help people cope with mental health problems and improve their well-being, on the other hand, a recent study confirms a hypothesis that should serve as a warning: excessive exercise can harm mental health.
The observational study, the largest of its kind in the world to date, found that exercisers report fewer days with mental health problems (on average 1. 5 days less per month) than people who do not exercise.
- The study also found that team sports.
- Cycling.
- Aerobic exercise and gymnastics practice are associated with the biggest reductions in the same direction.
- The study was conducted by researchers at Yale University in New Haven.
- Connecticut.
- USA.
- U.
- S.
- A.
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The study was conducted to better understand how exercise affects a person’s mental health; In addition, we try to identify which types of exercises are best for emotional momentum; they also questioned the importance of exercise. has been published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
“Exercise is associated with a lower mental health burden for people, regardless of age, race, gender, family income and education,” says Dr. Adam Chekroud, lead author of the study. Chekroud also explains 😕 [?] Details of the distribution of the exercises, as well as the type, duration and frequency, played an important role in this association. Now we’re using this to try to customize exercise recommendations and bring people together with a specific exercise. regimen that helps improve your mental health.
Exercising more wasn’t always better. The study found that exercising for 45 minutes three to five times a week was associated with the greatest benefits. The study included everything from childcare, housework, lawn mowing and cycling, gym, running and skiing.
We know that exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes; therefore, it reduces mortality. However, his association with mental health is not yet clear. The research described on the effect of exercise on mental health has conflicting results.
Although there is some evidence to suggest that exercise can improve mental health, the relationship may be both ways. For example, inactivity can be a symptom and a contributor to poor mental health, and being active can be a sign of resilience or even contributing to the authors point out that their study fails to establish what is a cause and what an effect is.
In the study, the authors used data from 1. 2 million adults in all 50 US states. But it’s not the first time They completed the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey in 2011, 2013 and 2015, which included demographic data, as well as information on physical health, mental health and health. related behaviors. The study did not take into account other mental disorders besides depression.
Participants should calculate how many days over the past 30 years felt their minds were not working well in the face of stress, depression and other emotional problems.
They were also asked how often they had exercised in the last 30 days outside of regular work, as well as how many times a week or month they exercised and for how long. All results were adjusted by age, race, sex, marital status, etc. education, employment status, body mass index, self-formed physical health and prior diagnosis of depression.
On average, participants lived 3. 4 days with mental health problems per month. Compared to those who reported not exercising, those who practiced reported 1. 5 days less with mental health problems each month, a reduction of 43. 2% (2. 0 days for people who compared to 3. 4 days for people who did not practice).
The reduction in the number of days of poor mental health was greater in people who had previously been diagnosed with depression, where exercise was associated with 3. 75 days less of poor mental health, compared to people who did not. without exercise, equivalent to a 34. 5% reduction (7. 1 days for people who exercised versus 10. 9 days for people who didn’t exercise)
In general, 75 types of exercises were recorded and grouped into eight categories: aerobic and gymnastic exercises, cycling, household chores, team sports, recreational activities, jogging and jogging, walking or water sports.
All types of exercise were associated with better mental health; however, stronger partnerships for all participants were observed in team sports, cycling and aerobic and gymnastics exercises (reduction of days of poor mental health by 22. 3%, 21. 6% and 20. 1%, respectively). In fact, household homework performance was associated with improvement (reducing days of poor mental health by about 10%, or about half a day less per month).
The association between exercise and improving mental health was greater than that of mental health with other social or demographic factors (a 43. 2% reduction in mental health). For example, those with higher education had a 17. 8% reduction in the number of days of poor mental health compared to people without school; people with normal BMI had a 4% reduction compared to obese people. In addition, people with annual incomes over $50,000 recorded a 17% reduction compared to those earning less.
The frequency and time people spend on exercise was also an important factor. People who exercised three to five times a week reported better mental health than those who exercised less or more per week (associated with approximately 2. 3 days less exercise twice a month).
Exercise for 30 to 60 minutes was associated with a further reduction in days of poor mental health (associated with approximately 2. 1 days less of poor mental health compared to people who did not exercise). Small reductions were also observed in people who exercised for more than 90 minutes a day. However, exercising for more than three hours a day was associated with worse mental health than lack of exercise.
The authors point out that people who exercise excessively may have obsessive characteristics that can increase the risk of poor mental health.
Researchers say the finding that team sports are associated with a lower burden of poor mental health may indicate that social activities promote resilience and reduce depression by reducing social isolation, giving social sports an advantage over other types of sports.
The study used people’s self-assessment of their mental health and level of physical exercise, so we are talking about perceived mental health, not objective mental health, and only participants were asked about their main form of exercise, for example, it could not be an uncontrolled variation if people performing more than one exercise are considered.