Anxiety is a frequent disorder in today’s society, yet not always the cause is psychological: the vital energy could be hampered by a sedentary lifestyle.

Diabetes, obesity, overweight. So far, these were the pathologies considered a direct consequence of a sedentary lifestyle, and these now adds another disorder: anxiety.

Because a sedentary lifestyle causes anxiety? Researchers from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University, Australia, led by Megan Teychenne conducted nine studies to verify how and how much a little or no physical activity able to affect the health of the mind over the body. It was found that spending all his free time watching TV, playing video games and eating snacks staying on the couch are deleterious behaviors for body and mind. The reason may lie in excessive stimulation of the nervous system, committed too many hours in front of a screen, the important causes difficulty sleeping well, generating thus a state of restlessness and anxiety.

This is the first outcome of the studies yet to be analyzed in detail, but that shows a possible link between physical inactivity and anxiety. Although it may seem exaggerated at first sight, we can think of simple episodes of everyday life to realize that, although we are not in front of a screen, the prolonged lack of exercise or simple movement makes us uneasy. We think the expectation during a long line at the bank or at the traffic lights: even if we do not hurry and we are on time, after a while we feel restless and anxious. The reason may lie in an accumulation of energy that, not used to the movement, anxiety is a way to express themselves.

Australian research has not concluded, and the same Teychenne said:

It is important to understand the behavioral factors that may be linked to anxiety to develop evidence-based strategies for prevention and management of this disease. Our research has shown that the evidence found suggests a positive association between sitting time and anxiety symptoms. However, the direction of this relationship has yet to be determined through longitudinal studies and interventional.

We must therefore understand if it is a sedentary lifestyle to cause anxiety or vice versa. With regard to the study on the relationship between anxiety and sedentary lifestyle she has been published an article in the journal BMC Public Health.