Does physical activity really improve anxiety and depression in overweight or obese children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis - Takeaways - MDSpire

Does physical activity really improve anxiety and depression in overweight or obese children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • By

  • Jie Men

  • Yuxi Zhang

  • Simin Wu

  • Pengbo Wang

  • Zhengyang Yu

  • Guoyu Zhu

  • Jingwen Wang

  • Weiqi An

  • Zhaowei Li

  • Penghong Liu

  • January 16, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Overweight and obesity significantly increase the prevalence of depression among youth, rising from 6.2% to 26.7% in this population.

  • 2

    Physical activity serves as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving both psychological and metabolic health in overweight and obese youth.

  • 3

    Traditional treatments for anxiety and depression in youth often face challenges, including side effects and limited accessibility, affecting treatment uptake.

  • 4

    This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of physical activity on anxiety and depression in overweight and obese children, considering various influencing factors.

  • 5

    The findings of this study may inform clinical practices and exercise guidelines, addressing the dual challenges of obesity and mental health in youth.

Original Source(s)

Does physical activity really improve anxiety and depression in overweight or obese children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis

  • by Jie Men, Yuxi Zhang, Simin Wu, Pengbo Wang, Zhengyang Yu, Guoyu Zhu, Jingwen Wang, Weiqi An, Zhaowei Li, Penghong Liu

  • January 16, 2026

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