The more fit middle-school girls are, the less likely they may be to develop symptoms of depression, according to a recent study.
Although the effect of fitness on depression was small, improvements in fitness may be part of an overall strategy for reducing the risk of depression in middle-schoolers, according to Camilo Ruggero, lead researcher and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Texas. Other strategies might include school-based or family therapy, which can both treat and help prevent depression in at-risk kids.
"Fitness is not a cure-all, but it's a small piece of a larger problem," said Ruggero. He noted that depression is also linked to a higher body mass index (BMI), a measurement used to assess if a person has a healthy weight for their height. In addition, middle school is a time when fitness levels drop off, weight increases and depression increases. "That's why we're so focused on that period," he said.
[For more of this story, written by Tara Haelle, go to http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/fitness-may-help-ward-off-depression-in-young-girls-690489.html]
Comments (0)