A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.
Background
Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders that increase physical health risk and are a leading cause of disability worldwide. Different forms of physical fitness could be modifiable risk factors for common mental disorders in the population. We investigated associations between individual and combined markers of cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength with the occurrence of common mental disorders.
Methods
A seven-year prospective cohort study of 152,978 UK Biobank participants. An exercise stress test and dynamometer were used to measure cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength, respectively. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales to estimate the incidence of common mental disorders at follow-up.
Results
Low and medium cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength were associated with a higher likelihood of depression or anxiety compared to high cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength. Individuals in the lowest group for both cardiorespiratory fitness and grip strength had the highest odds of depression and anxiety.
Conclusions
Objective cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness markers are modifiable risk factors for common mental disorders. Public health strategies to reduce common mental disorders could include combinations of aerobic and resistance activities.
Published in BMC Medicine volume, November 18, 2020
