According to a recent study, keeping girls around middle-school age in good physical condition may lower their chances of developing symptoms of depression. The link found is not one of high impact, but researchers believe that improved fitness may have a role in a larger overall preventative strategy.
It is unclear the exact reason fitness and depression are related, but researchers believe there are a number of possibilities. Depression is noted to be linked with a higher body mass index, which, especially in the middle school age range, could be due to the lowered self-esteem that often accompanies a high BMI. Middle school is typically the time in an adolescent's life when fitness levels decline, and both weight and depression levels increase.
On a biological level, researchers note that there are certain hormones that are associated with depression that are also influenced by exercise.
However, it must be made clear that while fitness and depression may display a slight relationship, fitness is neither a preventative nor a cure for depression, or any other mental illness. The lead researcher in the study, Camilo Ruggero of the University of North Texas, made sure to point out that depression is a highly complex illness with a number of different risk factors, including: violence, poverty, low self-esteem, family history, traumatic life events, and many more. Its causes are complicated and varied, and there is nothing that says for sure whether or not a person will become depressed at any point in time.
What this study has provided is one small way, that when combined with other factors, may be a step in the right direction to supporting good mental health. Keeping physically fit and active is a combatant against one of many risk factors.
