Linking Mental Health and Fitness.
​In a series of cross-sectional, longitudinal and meta-analysis studies, researchers were able to draw a correlation between cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and an individual’s sense of self-esteem and confidence in youth (Cadenas). This same analysis also demonstrated a negative correlation between physical activity levels and instances of depression and anxiety. In a study examining the mental health of obese students in Suzhou, China, differences between obese students who were performing routine exercise (including strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular training) and those who were not were examined. The obese students who were performing routine exercise scored similarly to non-obese students on a psychological factor scale when compared to the group of obese students not performing exercise (Wu). The group of obese students who exercised also showed increased self-esteem and self-confidence. On the other hand, the group of obese students who did not perform routine exercise were more likely to exhibit symptoms of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and psychosis. Regardless of a person’s physical body composition, performing regular exercise aids in the prevention of mental health disorders as well as reduces the severity of the symptoms of mental health disorders.