Exercise may ward off mental disorders

London: High or mild levels of physical activity, and exercise performed in leisure time, can help prevent mental disorders, a new study has found.

The study conducted by researchers from Faculty of Sciences for Physical Activity (INEF) and Sport at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) in collaboration with the European University (UEM) found that the level of exercise performed in leisure time is inversely related to vulnerability to mental disorders.

The researchers also found that adults in the Community of Madrid who performed high or mild levels of total physical activity (amount of physical activity at work or usual occupation, commuting and leisure time) had higher levels of mental health than those performing low levels of physical activity.

The study population was between 15 and 74 years old. Researchers found that 15 per cent suffered some type of mental disorder and 19.8 per cent were not active enough according to current recommendations.

The aim of the research was to assess the possible link between physical activity and levels of mental health by analysing whether such link changed in terms of physical activity (low, mild, high) and the situation in which was performed (work, commuting, leisure time).