While physical activity offers mental health benefits for everyone, the best type of activity to improve mood varies based on weight and comorbidities. Researchers of a study recently published in the Journal of affective disorders examined the relationship between the type, frequency, and duration of physical activity in people with obesity and a variable number of chronic diseases.
While physical activity is key to weight control and curbing symptoms of anxiety and depression, adults with multiple comorbidities may not be able to participate in the same activities as healthy adults or even an obese adult who does not have other chronic health conditions. Delving into the type of activity most beneficial for people with physical limitations can help inform treatment.
To compare the effectiveness of various types, frequencies, and duration of activities in adults with obesity, with and without comorbidities, the researchers used cross-sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance (BRFSS), a repeated telephone survey of 18-year-old adults. years. or older in the United States. They extracted data collected between 2011 and 2019 (odd years only), resulting in 871,949 participants for analysis. Of them, 43.82 were healthy, 10.09% obese without chronic comorbidities, 11.81% obese with 1 comorbidity, and 34.8% obese with 2 or more comorbidities.
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Walking was the most popular activity among all groups. aerobic exercise and strength training had the greatest mental health benefits for healthy people (21.92%, 20.46%, respectively). While running, walking, and cycling specifically were associated with the greatest mental health benefits in healthy adults, aerobics classes and videos, golf, and swimming benefited those with obesity and 1 comorbidity (22, 14%, 20.75% and 19.64% respectively).
For people with obesity and 2 or more chronic conditions, aerobics classes and videos alone (19.6%) improved mental health burden by more than 17%. The researchers also observed a U-shaped curve between exercise frequency, duration, and mental health. Too little and too much were associated with worse mental health outcomes. Patients who exercised for 40 to 50 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week, reported the most positive mental health scores.
The self-reported nature of the responses may have led to recall bias. Mental health burden and BMI questions may not have accurately reflected mental health states and clinical symptoms. obesity. However, the study results may help doctors and clinicians make more specific activity recommendations for people with obesity. “It is important to make different physical activity strategies for people with obesity and obesity-related chronic comorbid conditions to maximize the improvement of people’s mental health,” the researchers concluded.
Reference
Xu P, Huang Y, Hou Q, et al. Relationship between physical activity and mental health in a national representative cross-sectional study: its variations according to obesity and comorbidity. J Affect Disorder. 2022;308:484-493. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.037
