Could teenage fitness shape your mental health decades later? New research suggests it might

Published on 06/10/2026 - 7:10 GMT+2

Exercise has long been linked to better mental health. But could how fit you are as a child or teenager predict your wellbeing years later?

Teenagers with better aerobic fitness have a lower risk of developing depression later in life, according to a new study.

Researchers in Australia analysed more than 1,000 people from a nationwide cohort originally surveyed in 1985 and followed for over three decades to track mental health outcomes through diagnostic interviews.

Participants’ fitness was measured in childhood through physical tests including a 1.6-kilometre run to assess cardiorespiratory fitness and a standing long jump to assess muscular power. A smaller group also completed cycling and handgrip strength tests.

The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that young people with faster running speeds — indicating superior cardiovascular fitness — had a 15% lower relative risk of developing depression later in adult life.

The average run time was about 8 minutes and 27 seconds, and running roughly 1 minute and 15 seconds faster than average was associated with this reduced depression risk.

The protective benefit of cardiorespiratory fitness was strongest five to ten years after the first tests, when participants were closest to childhood, and gradually attenuated over time. However, the associations persisted across the full 34-year follow-up.

Across all cardiorespiratory fitness measures, the authors noted that the protective effect was consistently stronger in females than in males. Women were also more likely to suffer from depression during their lives.

“While we cannot say a lack of fitness during childhood causes depression in adults, the findings suggest that childhood fitness may have benefits beyond physical health,” said Kyle Smith, the study’s lead author.

“There are many contributing factors to depression, meaning no single factor explains risk on its own. Fitness may be one piece of the puzzle.”

The number of people living with mental health conditions has nearly doubled over the past 30 years, driven mainly by sharp rises in anxiety and depression worldwide. Globally, about 322 million adults, one in 20 people, live with depression.

As rates continue to climb, researchers are focusing on identifying lifestyle factors that can help prevent or delay the condition.

“Importantly, fitness is something we can change; it may be an important target for improving long-term mental health,” said Grant Tomkinson, a researcher at Adelaide University.