A recent study conducted in Taiwan has revealed a significant correlation between physical activity levels in children and adolescents and lower rates of mental health disorders.
Published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, April 29, the study utilized anonymized data from the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests, which assess students' physical fitness activities in school. This data was then compared with information from the National Insurance Research Databases, which compile details about patients' diagnoses and medical records.
Spanning from 2009 to 2019, researchers analyzed data from students aged 10 to 11 years old, tracking them for a minimum of three years to observe the relationship between their physical fitness in school and their mental health diagnoses, particularly focusing on anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and ADHD/ADD.
The study categorized physical fitness into various groups, including cardio fitness, assessed by each student's performance in an 800-meter (approximately one mile) run; muscular endurance, measured by the number of sit-ups a student could perform; muscular power, determined by the distance of each student's standing jump; and flexibility, evaluated through a sit-and-reach test.
The study discovered that better performance in each type of fitness activity was associated with a decreased risk of mental health disorders. Specifically, improved cardio fitness, indicated by a 30-second faster half-mile run, was linked to reduced risks of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in female students, as well as lower risks of anxiety and ADHD in male students.
Enhanced muscular endurance, represented by the ability to perform 5 more sit-ups per minute, correlated with a lower risk of depression and ADHD in girls, and decreased anxiety and ADHD risks in boys. Similarly, better muscular performance, demonstrated by almost 8-inch longer standing jumps, was associated with reduced risks of anxiety and ADHD in girls, and lower risks of anxiety, depression, and ADHD in boys.
The study also suggested that the benefits of improved fitness could be "dose-dependent," implying that engaging in physical activity could serve as a preventive measure against mental health disorders.
"This study highlights the potential protective role of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, and muscular power in preventing the onset of mental disorders," the researchers wrote.
The link between exercise and mental health has long been recognized by scientists, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many experts advocating for increased physical activity among children.
"Physical activity has a small but significant effect on the mental health of children and adolescents ages 6 to 18," stated the American Psychological Association in April 2020, citing additional research that supports the long-term mental health benefits of exercise for children.
The authors of the study emphasized the need for further research into targeted physical fitness programs, suggesting that these programs could hold significant potential as primary preventive interventions against mental disorders in children and adolescents.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Ahqaf : 21 - 23
And remember the brother of ’Ȃd, when he warned his people, who inhabited the sand-hills—there were certainly warners before and after him—˹saying,˺ “Worship none but Allah. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.”
They argued, “Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Bring us then whatever you threaten us with, if what you say is true.”
He responded, “The knowledge ˹of its time˺ is only with Allah. I only convey to you what I have been sent with. But I can see that you are a people acting ignorantly.”
The people of ‘Ad once inhabited that area of southern Arabia which is now known as ar-Rub al-Khali.
They made considerable progress, but their development pushed them into arrogance and neglectfulness.
Then Almighty God made Hud, a member of that community, a prophet, and sent him to them.
Hud warned his community of God’s displeasure but, unwilling to be reformed, it received its prophet with rudeness.
Ultimately, God’s wrath descended upon it and it received such a severe punishment that its glorious and lush green surroundings turned into a totally arid desert.
