The effect of exercise and diet on mental health and quality of life in middle-aged individuals with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Mental health and quality of life were assessed before and after a one-year exercise and diet intervention among 219 healthy individuals, aged 41-50 years, with elevated risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The participants were randomized to four groups: diet (n = 55), diet and exercise (n = 67), exercise (n = 54) and no active intervention (n = 43). Quality of life was measured with one eight-item scale and two one-item scales. Mental health was measured by the General Health Questionnaire (30-item version). Depression, anxiety, feelings of competence and self-esteem, coping and social dysfunction were measured using subscales of the General Health Questionnaire. Somatic anxiety was measured by the anxiety subscale of the Symptom Check List-90. Exercise improved the total GHQ scores, perceived competence/self-esteem, and coping as measured by the GHQ subscales. There were no significant effects of diet or exercise on quality of life, depression or anxiety. A high rate of participation in the exercise programme (>70%) was associated with greater improvements in total GHQ scores, anxiety, perceived competence/self-esteem and coping.
The Norwegian University for Sport and Physical Education, Oslo.
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M
Sørensen
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S
Anderssen
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I
Hjerman
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I
Holme
H
H
Ursin
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors