Why Depression Is Caused By A Sedentary Lifestyle?

What are the 8 main consequences of a sedentary lifestyle?

An inactive lifestyle, also known as sedentary or sitting disease, is characterized by a lack of physical activity and sitting. This lifestyle is linked to obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. People are increasingly spending more time on sedentary activities, such as using computers, watching TV, or playing video games. Many jobs have become more sedentary, with long days sitting at a desk.

Additionally, most transportation involves sitting in cars, buses, and trains. This lifestyle can lead to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers.

What happens if you are sedentary for too long?

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that prolonged sitting can lead to early death from any cause, with the lowest risk for those sitting for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Sedentary behavior has been linked to diabetes, poor heart health, weight gain, depression, dementia, and multiple cancers. A recent study in JAMA found that in over 51, 000 Americans surveyed, the amount of time spent sitting increased by about an hour a day between 2007 and 2016, with a notable rise among adolescents.

Prolonged sitting is a major cause for many conditions treated in musculoskeletal clinics and often results in office visits with other doctors. It is ingrained in society, with people stationed at desks, seated in front of computers or TV for extended periods, and constantly traveling.

How can inactivity hurt your mental health?

Researchers have discovered that sleep problems, lack of energy, and physical inactivity can lead to a depressed mood and mood changes. This contradicts the conventional belief that depression leads to physical inactivity. The study, led by Dr. Kathleen Merikangas at NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health and Dr. Vadim Zipunnikov at John Hopkins University, found that these factors can result from a depressed mood. The research suggests that physical activity could be an effective strategy to change mood states and improve health and quality of life.

Why does inactivity cause anxiety?

Sedentary lifestyles can negatively impact mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and mood disorders. The link between anxiety and sedentary habits is unclear, but it may be linked to poor sleep, stress, and lack of motivation for social activities. Anxiety may also be the cause of a sedentary lifestyle. Balancing activity and relaxation can improve mental health and reduce anxiety risk. If struggling with managing anxiety or increasing activity, seek help from a healthcare or mental health professional for necessary treatment and support.

Why does lack of exercise cause depression?

The hippocampus, a crucial area in depression, is primarily involved in emotional processing and stress regulation. Exercise modifies brain connectivity, leading to increased neuroplasticity and changes in neurotransmission, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Depression disrupts several key brain regions by affecting cerebral blood flow and diminishing the number of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), affecting neurotransmission, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis.

How does sedentary lifestyle affect the brain?

A preliminary study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on middle-aged and older adults has revealed a correlation between excessive sedentary behavior and atrophy in regions of the brain that are essential for memory formation.

How does sedentary lifestyle cause depression?

Sedentary lifestyles (LTSB) can have significant physiological and psychological impacts on individuals. Physically, prolonged sitting can lead to reduced physical activity (PA), increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Sedentary habits can also cause muscle tension and neck/back pain, which can exacerbate depression symptoms. Psychologically, LTSB can heighten the risk of depression by affecting cognitive and emotional states.

Prolonged sedentary duration can lead to distraction, decreased productivity, stress, anxiety, and reduced enjoyment and fulfillment. Sedentary patterns can also impact sleep quality, which is crucial for maintaining mental well-being.

Socially, LTSB is linked to the fast-paced lifestyle and work environments of modern society. Many occupations require prolonged sitting in front of computers, promoting sedentary habits. This fast-paced lifestyle often deprives individuals of opportunities for PA and social engagement, escalating the risk of depression. Cultural beliefs and attitudes towards LTSB may also play a role in mental health outcomes, as certain cultural beliefs may view sedentary behavior as a manifestation of laziness or lack of self-discipline.

Why is a sedentary lifestyle bad for you?

Standing and moving during the day reduces the risk of early death compared to sitting at a desk. A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Sitting or lying down for extended periods increases the risk of chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Additionally, excessive sitting can negatively impact mental health. Being active is not as difficult as it seems, and there are numerous simple ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.

How does sedentary behavior affect mental health?

Sedentariness refers to any sitting behavior with an energy expenditure of less than 1. 5 metabolic equivalents. Sedentary behaviors are common in daily life, especially in occupations like researchers, clerks, drivers, and programmers. There is no clear definition of mentally passive and mentally active sedentary behaviors, but they can have adverse impacts on physical health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, stress, dementia, and sleeping problems.

Recent studies have found different effects between mentally active and passive sedentary behaviors on an individual’s well-being. A cross-sectional study found that mentally passive sedentary behaviors might be deleterious, while mentally active sedentary behaviors could be beneficial to health. Another 13-year prospective study found that substituting mentally passive with mentally active sedentary behaviors may reduce the risk of depression.

Depression is a common mental disorder that affects up to 25 of women and 12 of men. Research has found depression to be more common in women than men, and sex differences have age-specific effects on the risk of depression. A previous meta-analysis suggested a positive relation between sedentary behaviors and the risk of depression for the entire population, but it remains controversial whether this effect is consistent in adults.

A prospective study with a follow-up of 9. 3 years indicated that sedentary behaviors increased the risk of depression. However, another prospective cohort study with 13 years of follow-up found different effects on depression for mentally passive and mentally active sedentary behaviors, with a significant beneficial influence of mentally active sedentary behaviors on incident depression and non-significant effect of mentally passive sedentary behaviors or total sedentary behaviors on the risk of depression.

Epidemiological evidence on the association between sedentary behaviors and the risk of depression is inconsistent, making it unclear whether there is a relationship between sedentary behaviors and the risk of depression in adults.

How does physical inactivity affect mental health?

Researchers have discovered that sleep problems, lack of energy, and physical inactivity can lead to a depressed mood and mood changes. This contradicts the conventional belief that depression leads to physical inactivity. The study, led by Dr. Kathleen Merikangas at NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health and Dr. Vadim Zipunnikov at John Hopkins University, found that these factors can result from a depressed mood. The research suggests that physical activity could be an effective strategy to change mood states and improve health and quality of life.