Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is more important for mental health in middle age than light physical activity, according to a new study by the University of Oulu and ODL Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine. The more time people spent each day engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity relative to sedentary behavior and light activity, the fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety they experienced.
According to the study, published in Depression and Anxiety, simply increasing physical activity is not enough; the intensity of the activity appears to be crucial.
Replacing sedentary behavior with light activity, such as leisurely walking, produced small but clearly more limited benefits compared with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The findings were consistent across all symptom measures used in the study.
"The findings suggest that, from a mental health perspective, the intensity of physical activity is key, not merely increasing movement as such. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is intense enough to leave you slightly out of breath," says Maisa Niemelä, an adjunct professor at the University of Oulu.
The study also shows that mental health is influenced not only by individual bouts of exercise but also by the overall balance of daily time use. In addition to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sufficient sleep also protects against symptoms of depression and anxiety.⮐
