The researchers made the surprising findings by analyzing more than 4,000 people who had already taken part in the large and ongoing 1958 National Child Development Study in Great Britain.
Something we all do
This study follows 17,415 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in one week in 1958, collecting data on their physical and mental health, education and more.
From the large amount of data, the researchers have distilled a specific type of sedentary activity that we all spend time on to a greater or lesser extent, but which seems to have a negative effect on the psyche.
It involves watching television or similar mentally passive activities, which seem to take a toll on our mental health.
By comparison, the researchers do not see this trend in sedentary, but mentally active tasks, such as working at a desk or driving a car. Apparently the difference lies in whether the brain has to work or idle.
Exercise as an ‘antidote’
The researchers, who are affiliated with the University of São Paulo in Brazil, point to a number of concrete and measurable factors that may help explain the increased risk of depression.
They found, among other things, a lot of obesity and inflammation in those who spent a lot of time on mentally passive sedentary activities.
For example, one of the measurable factors was the so-called inflammatory marker C-reactive protein, CRP.
‘Our research shows that people who are at increased risk for depression and who spend a lot of time in mentally passive sedentary activities would be better off if their waist circumference and their elevated CRP levels were reduced through physical activity,’ write the researchers in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Almost all health recommendations say that we should be as physically active as possible throughout the week to counteract the physical and mental damage of sedentary work.
For example, a 2023 study found that when people with a sedentary lifestyle spend 30 to 40 minutes a day in moderate to vigorous physical activity, this offsets their increased risk of death, making them no more different from people who only exercise a little. sitting part of the time.
But existing research and health recommendations don’t take into account whether this is sedentary behavior where people are mentally active or passive, and there appears to be a big difference.
According to the researchers, this is a crucial detail that is important to include in the sum.
2023-12-06 17:46:51
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