Childhood fitness linked to lower risk of adult depression
Fitter kids are less likely to develop depression as adults, according to research led by the University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with Adelaide University. Using data from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study, spanning more than 30 years, researchers found children and adolescents with better cardiorespiratory fitness had a lower risk of…
Research led by the University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research suggests that children and adolescents with better cardiorespiratory fitness are less likely to develop depression as adults. Using data from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study, which spanned over 30 years, researchers found a strong and consistent association between childhood cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced risk of depression later in life.
The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, measured physical fitness through a 1.6-kilometer run and a standing long jump, with participants reassessed at ages 36-49. The strongest associations were observed among females, indicating that childhood fitness may have benefits beyond physical health. While the study cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, it highlights the importance of fitness as a modifiable factor in reducing depression risk.
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