Relationship Between Physical Activity, Body Composition and Depression in High School Students

Abstract

Objetive: To analyze the relationship between physical activity, body mass index (bmi) and depression in high school students. Methods: cross-sectional analytical study. Ninety-one boys and 102 girls, aged 16.1±0.09 years, from a high school in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico participated. Weight and height were measured to determine bmi. The Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (gsltpaq) and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to identify levels of depression. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to analyze bmi, physical activity, and depression. Results: negative and significant correlations were found when comparing bmi with vigorous physical activity and moderate physical activity. 43% of the students had some type of depression, and there was a significant negative correlation between moderate physical activity and depression (p=0.042). Conclusions: students with higher bmi perform less vigorous or moderate physical activity. In addition, students who engage in moderate physical activity have lower levels of depression. It is recommended to promote moderate physical activity in this type of population.