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News
Being in better cardiovascular shape isn't just good for your heart — it may protect your mind too. A large UK Biobank study of over 46,000 adults found that those with the highest cardiorespiratory fitness had a 24% lower risk of depression and a 17% lower risk of anxiety over more than 12 years. The findings suggest that improving fitness could be a meaningful, modifiable strategy for mental health prevention.
Being in better cardiovascular shape isn't just good for your heart — it may protect your mind too. A large UK Biobank study tracking over 46,000 adults for a median of 12.6 years found that those with the highest cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) had a 24% lower risk of developing depression and a 17% lower risk of developing anxiety compared to those with the lowest fitness levels. Researchers measured fitness using estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) from a standardized cycling test.
The study also found that for every one standard deviation increase in VO2max, the risk of depression dropped by 10% and anxiety by 6%. Proteomic analysis in a subset of participants identified seven differentially expressed plasma proteins — including leptin and FABP4 — hinting at metabolic and neuroprotective biological pathways that may help explain the link.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With depression and anxiety among the most prevalent and costly mental health conditions globally, these findings point to cardiorespiratory fitness as a practical, modifiable target for prevention — one that clinicians can actively promote alongside traditional mental health interventions.
