Health

Exercise Can Be Associated With Your Mental Health

New research links cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength with mental health.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Anxiety and depression are strikingly common. The evidence points to a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors that influence such conditions. While depression can manifest at any age, it often starts in adulthood. Still, we increasingly recognize that young children and adolescents can suffer from anxiety or depression. Here are some sobering statistics for individuals in the United States:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder. GAD affects nearly seven million adults, or about 3 percent of the population. Females have double the risk of men. This condition often occurs along with major depression.
• Panic disorder. PD affects six million adults or just under 3 percent of the population.
• Social Anxiety Disorder. This condition strikes 15 million Americans or almost 7 percent of the population.
• Major depression. Depression represents the leading cause of disability for those ages 15 to 44 years old. The median age of onset is about 32 years old, and it is more common among women than men.