Physical activity linked to improved adolescent mental health

A study involving 5,515 adolescents in the United States has found an association between higher daily step counts and improved mental health in 11- to 12-year-olds. Conducted by researchers from King’s College London and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the research utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

Participants wore Fitbit devices for three weeks to track activity. The findings indicated that adolescents taking fewer than 5,000 steps per day exhibited the highest number of mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and low mood. In contrast, those averaging 8,000 steps showed fewer symptoms, and those taking 12,000 or more steps reported the lowest levels of mental health issues.

The study also noted a correlation between higher step counts and increased cortical thickness in brain regions associated with movement and emotional regulation. While the research identifies a significant link between physical activity and brain structure, researchers noted that the study is observational and does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.