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Replacing TV with physical activity significantly reduces the risk of depression

2026-02-14 09:26:00, Lifestyle CNA

A new study by researchers at the University of Groningen has found that replacing TV time with physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of depression. The findings are published by Cambridge University Press.

The study involved over 65,000 adults, who were followed for four years. According to the results, replacing 60 minutes of TV time with a more active activity reduced the risk of developing depression by 11% overall, while in middle-aged adults the reduction reached almost 19%.

The effect became even more pronounced as the activity time increased. For shifts of 90 to 120 minutes, the risk of depression decreased by up to 25.9%.

Researchers analyzed what happens when time spent in front of the TV is replaced with various activities such as sports, leisure-time physical exercise, housework, commuting, and sleep. The results showed that sports provided the greatest benefit in reducing the probability of developing major depression.

Switching just 30 minutes from television to exercise resulted in an 18% reduction in risk. Physical activity at work or school reduced the risk by 10%, active travel by 8%, and sleep by 9%. On the other hand, replacing 30 minutes with housework did not bring a significant benefit for mental health.

The study also found differences by age group. In younger adults, switching time from television to more active activities had no significant impact, perhaps because they are already more active. In older adults, only exercise was effective in reducing the risk of depression.

According to researchers, even small lifestyle changes, such as 30 minutes of physical activity a day, can have a measurable impact on mental health./ CNA