Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A new study from Norway suggests that children who undertake moderate to vigorous activity – the type that leaves them breathless and sweaty – are less likely to develop symptoms of depression.

The researchers – from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and NTNU Social Research, both in Trondheim, Norway – report their findings in the journal Pediatrics. Children with learning, conduct, anxiety, or attention disorders have a higher risk of depression, as do children under stress or who experience loss, or whose family has a history of depression.

Researchers looked at data obtained from following hundreds of children over the course of 4 years in order to search for links between physical activity and symptoms of depression.

Measures of physical activity came from accelerometers that the children were asked to wear around their waists for 24 hours a day for 7 consecutive days, and only remove them when bathing or showering.

Measures of the children’s mental health were assessed from structured interviews conducted with parents.

The team found that children who were physically active at age 6 and 8 years were less likely to have symptoms of depression 2 years later.

“This is important to know, because it may suggest that physical activity can be used to prevent and treat depression already in childhood,” says study author Silje Steinsbekk, associate professor in the department of psychology at NTNU.

Moderate to vigorous physical activity is defined as activity that is intense enough to make the person sweat and get out of breath.

Published in Daily Times, June 29th, 2017