Exercise is connected to kids’ mental health

Exercising doesn’t just help kids’ physical health. It can also help reduce the risk of mental health issues for children and adolescents, according to a recent study. 

The results, published in JAMA Pediatrics, supports previous research that young people with better cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, power and flexibility had lower incidences of anxiety, depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders.

The study was conducted by researchers in Taiwan and included 1.9 million participants using data from the Taiwan National Student Fitness Tests and National Health Insurance Research. Girls and boys, nearly equally divided, were evaluated through an 800-meter run time, bent-leg curl-ups, standing broad jump and sit-and-reach tests.

The research found a dose-dependent connection, indicating perhaps a young person who performs better may be less likely to experience a mental health disorder. Girls in the study who showed a 30-second improvement in 800-meter time, for example, had reduced risks of anxiety, depression and ADHD. For boys, an increase of five curl-ups per minute was associated with lower risks for anxiety and ADHD.

Encouraging News

The link between exercise and better mental health is not necessarily new, but the study results are nonetheless encouraging, said Kathryn Rudman, MD, a pediatrician at Briarpatch Pediatrics in Sandwich, Nantucket and Yarmouth Port.

“These results are exciting because previous research relied largely on questionnaires and self-reports,” she said. “This study used objective standards and anonymous data from a very large number of kids.”

Mental health issues among children and adolescents have become a growing concern, both in her practice and nationwide, she said. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health reported that nearly 20 percent of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. These trends were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is alarming and continues to be a large part of my day, every day,” said Dr. Rudman. “Mental health certainly got worse during COVID, but this predates the pandemic. I think this goes back directly to phones for kids, increased screen time, social media and excessive video game time.

“We’ve always pontificated: Is physical fitness itself reducing the incidence of mental health or is it the fact that if you’re active in things like sports that keep you fit, this displaces screen time and increases social interactions?  There actually seems to be a direct effect of exercise on the brain.

"Whether it’s increased brain blood flow, or a side benefit of exercise and better sleep, this study suggests the better you did on these physical fitness tests, the better your mental fitness was.”

Things Kids Can Do

Dr. Rudman’s recommendations for good mental and physical health include:

• 60 minutes of physical activity a day. “And ideally, as other studies have shown, it’s most beneficial if this is broken up throughout the day, 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there, constant little 'exercise snacks' if you will,” she said.
• Good nutrition, with five fruits and vegetables a day; avoid junk food and sugary drinks; drink a lot of water.
• Good sleep: try to get eight to nine hours of sleep a night if you are a teenager, at least 9-10 hours if you are younger.
• Parents can also help by setting a good example for their kids. Exercise together and put your phones and screens away!  “(Kids) might not always do what you say, but they will do what you do,” said Dr. Rudman

“It’s not rocket science, but nowadays we like to back up everything with data, so it’s nice to see a study that confirms what we’ve known all along. For those who want evidence, here you go. This is a good one.”