Science & Technology, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The benefits of exercise have long been known to benefit a variety of conditions, from heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes among others. The blood circulation is crucial to rapidly distribute immune cells across the body and this is where exercise play and essential role in enhancing blood circulation.
A new study has indicated that regular physical activity can enhance adolescents’ mental health and assist with behavioral issues.
Regular moderate to vigorous physical activity at 11 years old was linked to better mental health between 11 and 13 years old, as demonstrated in the findings.
Physical activity was further linked with lower hyperactivity and behavioral problems, like the loss of temper, conflicts with other children, lying, and stealing, in young people.
A study conducted together by the Universities of Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Bristol, and Georgia in the USA evaluated data from the Children of the 90s study, which was also referred to as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; ALSPAC. Evaluations were made for the levels of physical activity of 4755 11-year-olds that were measured with the utilization of devices.
The devices kept track of levels of moderate physical activity, which was generally referred to as brisk walking or cycling and also vigorous activity enhancing heart rate and breathing, like aerobic dancing, jogging or swimming according to the researchers.
The young people and their parents demonstrated the levels of depressive symptoms from 11 years old and at 13 years old. Participants’ parents and teachers were further queried in regards to the young people’s general behavior and emotional issues.
When evaluating the impact of moderate to vigorous exercise on the young person’s mental health and behavior, the team further looked into factors like age, sex and socio-economic status.
They discovered that increased levels of moderate or intense physical activity had a minor but detectable link with reductions in depressive symptoms and emotional hardships.
Regular exercise had a minor but identifiable link with lower behavioral problems, even after controlling for other potential factors, according to the researchers.
The results point out that regular moderate and intense physical activity can have a minor defensive influence on mental health in early adolescence, as indicated by the researchers who also stated that the study was the 1st to provide such a comprehensive approach in exploring mental health and exercise in young people.
“This study adds to the increasing evidence base about how important physical activity is for all aspects of young people’s development – it can help them feel better, and do better at school. Supporting young people to lead healthy active lives should be prioritised,” explained Dr Josie Booth, Moray House School of Education and Sport.
The study was funded by the Bupa Foundation. The scientists utilized data from the Children of the 90s study, which is generally referred to as the ALSPAC birth cohort, based at the University of Bristol. The study is a long-term health-research project enrolling over 14,000 pregnant women in 1991 as well as 1992.
Children of the 90s is tracking the health and development of the parents as well as their children in detail which is presently recruiting the children and the siblings from the original children into the research. Core funding is provided by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust along with the University of Bristol.
“While it might seem obvious that physical activity improves mental health the evidence for such a benefit in children and young people has been scarce, so the study findings are important. The findings are also important because levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity globally are so low in pre-teens globally – less than a third achieve the 60 minutes per day recommended by the WHO and UK Health Departments,” said Professor John Reilly, University of Strathclyde.
