Meta-analysis and systematic review of physical activity on neurodevelopment disorders, depression, and obesity among children and adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundNo consensus on whether physical activity (PA) is related to physical and mental health among pediatric population remains has been reached to date. To further explore their association, our study assessed the effect of PA on physical and mental health of children and adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies (RCTs).MethodsSeveral databases(Web of science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central register of controlled trials, CINAHL) were searched from inception to 1st, December 2020 without language restrictions.Results38,236 records were identified primitively and 31 included studies with 1,255 participants eventually met our inclusion criteria, all of which exhibited a relatively low-moderate risk of bias of overall quality. In regard to mental health, the administration of PA, compared with the control group, led to moderate improvements in Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)[Standard mean difference (SMD) = −0.50, Confidence interval(CI): −0.87, −0.14)] and depression(SMD = −0.68, CI: −0.98, −0.38) among children and adolescents. Similarly, significant result was observed in obesity (SMD = −0.58, CI: −0.80, −0.36). No significant differences were observed in Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (SMD = −0.29, CI: −0.59, 0.01).ConclusionAltogether, PA may have a beneficial effect on children and adolescents with ASD, depression and obesity; nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence to confirm its efficacy in ADHD. More large-scale population based randomized controlled trials are needed to explore more reliable evidence between them.

A prospective analysis of physical activity and mental health in children: the GECKO Drenthe cohort

“…Systematic review studies have found positive effects of physical activity interventions on mental health in different age groups. Peng et al reported that the administration of a physical activity intervention may lead to moderate improvements in symptoms of depression in adolescents aged 12–18 years old [ 10 ]. In addition, Hale et al summarized studies involving physical activity interventions for children aged 6 to 11 years old and concluded that these interventions had positive effects on mental health in school and neighborhood settings, but evidence on reducing ill-being in children remained unclear [ 11 ].…”

Adolescent mental health interventions: a narrative review of the positive effects of physical activity and implementation strategies

“…Particularly, moderate to high-intensity Physical Activity have a substantial effect in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing life satisfaction ( Marconcin et al, 2022 ). Another meta-analysis further supports this view, noting a significant positive correlation between the frequency and intensity of physical activity and the extent of improvement in psychological health ( Peng et al, 2022 ). In summary, regular participation in Physical Activity can significantly enhance the psychological health of adolescents, with higher frequencies and intensities of Activity leading to better outcomes.…”

“…By comparing data before and after interventions, many studies consistently find that Physical Activity improve adolescents’ psychological states, reducing negative emotions such as depression and anxiety, and enhancing overall psychological well-being. Furthermore, the frequency and intensity of participation in Physical Activity are positively correlated with the degree of improvement in psychological health ( Pascoe et al, 2020 ; Marconcin et al, 2022 ; Peng et al, 2022 ).…”

Association between sedentary behavior and risk of cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment among the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In another crosssectional study, Gafni et al (2022) found that insufficient PA and sitting for at least three-quarters of the day increased the risk of MCI in the elderly. In other words, low PA and prolonged SB adversely affect cognitive function in the elderly (Peng et al, 2022). This could be due to the high prevalence of chronic inflammation and reduced hormone levels associated with older stages of life.…”