A recent study shows that while moderate exercise boosts mental health in adolescents, excessive physical activity can have the opposite effect, potentially worsening thought problems.
The researchers used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study which included samples from 7,188 participants who were around 11 to 12 years old.
Each participant wore a Fitbit wrist device every day for three weeks to track their daily steps and other physical activities.
Their parent’s analysis of their exercise habits and sports participation was also analysed. Internalising problems (such as anxiety or sadness), externalising problems (such as aggression), and thought problems (such as unusual thinking or poor attention) were also tracked in these participants.
The study authors observed that with physical activity, both moderate and vigorous levels, the participants demonstrated lesser 9internalising and thought problems. However, there was no strong link observed between physical activity and externalising problems. The relationship between exercise and mental health was observed to be non-linear. The best outcomes were observed in participants who followed a moderate physical routine.
The study observed that physical activity can boost mental health in adolescents by shaping the way the brain processes information and coordinates with the regions responsible for attention, motor skills, and emotional regulation.
“We found that the effects of physical activity on mental health act more through brain function than through brain morphology in adolescence,” the study authors added.
Source: Hindustan Times
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
