A sedentary lifestyle is not advisable for one's health as it keeps you from exerting physical effort, preventing healthy blood flow. A new study has revealed that being sedentary also affects your mental health. The study found that too much physical inactivity such as sitting or lying down can increase the risk of depression.
A group of Chinese researchers gathered data from over a dozen studies that involved over 200,000 participants worldwide. Results revealed that sedentary behavior was linked to a 25% higher chance of being depressed, compared to those who led more active lifestyles.
The study, conducted by the Oingdau University Medical College in Shangong, stresses how physical activity can be an effective avenue in preventing depression. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers wrote that they also discovered the differences depending on people's type of inactivity. For instance, participants whose main sedentary behavior was watching television were 13% more likely to have or develop depression. Meanwhile, those who mainly used the computer or the Internet had a 22% higher risk.
Although the study involved associations and establishing links, the study team did not look for reasons behind such links. After all, the researchers point out that most of the studies included in the analysis accounted for a variety of factors such as illnesses, which might explain the sedentary lifestyle. These studies may not have taken all possible factors into consideration.
It was also noted that they cannot discredit the possibility of depression as the cause of sedentary behavior, not the other way around. It could be a circular problem, the researchers point out.
Still, the researchers stress that it is undeniable how the analysis of these studies show how depression and a sedentary lifestyle go hand in hand. This suggests that more physical activity could be useful in managing depression symptoms as well as clinical levels of depression.
