A new study suggests that overweight teens and young adults receive a significant mental health boost even from very modest levels of physical activity.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, was carried out at University of Ottawa by the associate professor of pediatrics, Dr. Gary Goldfield and funded by Canadian Diabetes Association and the CHEO Research Institute, according to a press release.
“In my practice, the first thing I tell teens struggling with their weight and their parents is to throw away the scale,” Goldfield said.
“These kids face enough challenges with bullying and peer pressure today. This new study is proof positive that even a modest dose of exercise is prescriptive for a mental health boost.”
Thirty adolescents aged 12-17 years engaged in physical activity, either by stationary cycling to music of their own choice or to an interactive video game of their own choice for a 10-week trial. All exercise was supervised and performed at a light to moderate intensity, according to the press release.
Although few physical differences emerged between the exercise groups over time, the teens did self-report improvements in perceived scholastic competence, social competence, and several markers of body image including appearance esteem and weight esteem, according to the release.
According to Goldfield, this activity can help “buffer” against some of the weight-based teasing and discrimination and bias that is often inflicted on obese kids and that can have devastating effects on their emotional well-being.
From 2007 to 2009 the adult obesity rate in Canada was at a percentage at 24.3%, according to Statistics Canada. This means between 2007 – 2009, roughly 8 million Canadians were clinically obese.
