Physical activity can cheer up kids. Researchers who studied more than 200 overweight and sedentary 7- to 11-year-olds randomly assigned to one of three fitness groups found that children who spent 40 minutes a day exercising after school were less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who didn’t exercise—even if their weight didn’t change. The kids who were active for 40 minutes each day had greater boosts in mood than peers who exercised for only 20 minutes, suggesting that more is better when it comes to heart-pumping activities.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Psychology, published online Feb. 16, 2009