Risk of Depression High in Women Who Lead a Sedentary Lifestyle

A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that women who do not exercise regularly and often sit in front of the television are more prone to suffer from depression. Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study conducted between 1992 and 2000 and chose nearly 50,000 women who did not have depression in 1996. The researchers made use of the data filled in the questionnaire that all the participants had filled in the initial study and then followed up on the chosen candidates in 2006.

Over 6,505 cases of depression were found in 2006 and the researchers found that those who were physically active had a lower risk of depression compared to those who exercised less than 10 minutes every day.

Watching television too had an effect on the chances of depression with the risk increasing by 13 percent among those who 21 hours or more of TV per week. Commenting on the study, lead researcher Michael Lucas wrote, “Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower depression risk.”


Source-Medindia