Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India

Background: Physical activity (PA) offers innumerable benefits and is a promising intervention against common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. We examined the association between PA and depression or anxiety in adults. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted between March 2021...

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Main Authors: Madhur Verma, Amandeep Kaur, Ankush Upneja, Preeti Dhoat, Jitender Aneja, Rakesh Kakkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Community Medicine
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_490_23
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author Madhur Verma
Amandeep Kaur
Ankush Upneja
Preeti Dhoat
Jitender Aneja
Rakesh Kakkar
author_facet Madhur Verma
Amandeep Kaur
Ankush Upneja
Preeti Dhoat
Jitender Aneja
Rakesh Kakkar
author_sort Madhur Verma
collection DOAJ
description Background: Physical activity (PA) offers innumerable benefits and is a promising intervention against common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. We examined the association between PA and depression or anxiety in adults. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted between March 2021 and August 2022 using a cross-sectional study design. We recruited 334 participants >40 years of age from the noncommunicable disease (NCD) screening clinic of a tertiary care institute in North India. Health-enhancing PA (HEPA) was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while depression and anxiety were screened using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales. Bivariate and univariate analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 to depict our results. Results: Engagement in HEPA was 23.4%. The HEPA depicted significant socioeconomic disparities. The mean total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were considerably higher in the HEPA active group, despite having lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scale scores. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 59.0% and 13.4%. PA depicted better odds against depression but not against anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Low HEPA engagement in adults is a matter of concern, and it is high time we look beyond NCDs toward the risk factors. It is essential to incorporate PA counseling universally and not be restricted to a particular clinical department to realize its full potential in restraining the growing NCD burden.
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spelling doaj-art-8e85e1fd36af4cd89841caca6469281d2025-02-06T05:32:49ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Community Medicine0970-02181998-35812025-01-01501536110.4103/ijcm.ijcm_490_23Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North IndiaMadhur VermaAmandeep KaurAnkush UpnejaPreeti DhoatJitender AnejaRakesh KakkarBackground: Physical activity (PA) offers innumerable benefits and is a promising intervention against common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. We examined the association between PA and depression or anxiety in adults. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted between March 2021 and August 2022 using a cross-sectional study design. We recruited 334 participants >40 years of age from the noncommunicable disease (NCD) screening clinic of a tertiary care institute in North India. Health-enhancing PA (HEPA) was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while depression and anxiety were screened using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scales. Bivariate and univariate analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 to depict our results. Results: Engagement in HEPA was 23.4%. The HEPA depicted significant socioeconomic disparities. The mean total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were considerably higher in the HEPA active group, despite having lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scale scores. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 59.0% and 13.4%. PA depicted better odds against depression but not against anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Low HEPA engagement in adults is a matter of concern, and it is high time we look beyond NCDs toward the risk factors. It is essential to incorporate PA counseling universally and not be restricted to a particular clinical department to realize its full potential in restraining the growing NCD burden.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_490_23cardiovascular diseasescommon mental disordersgeriatricsphysical activity
spellingShingle Madhur Verma
Amandeep Kaur
Ankush Upneja
Preeti Dhoat
Jitender Aneja
Rakesh Kakkar
Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
Indian Journal of Community Medicine
cardiovascular diseases
common mental disorders
geriatrics
physical activity
title Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
title_full Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
title_fullStr Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
title_full_unstemmed Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
title_short Is Physical Activity Related to Depression and Anxiety among Adults? Observations from a Noncommunicable Disease Screening Clinic in North India
title_sort is physical activity related to depression and anxiety among adults observations from a noncommunicable disease screening clinic in north india
topic cardiovascular diseases
common mental disorders
geriatrics
physical activity
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_490_23
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