The fitness factor: New study suggests your workout habit may be your best defense against daily stress
A Brazilian study found that people with below-average cardiorespiratory fitness were nearly eight times (775%) more likely to experience a severe spike in anxiety when exposed to stressful stimuli compared to their fitter peers.
Regular aerobic activity strengthens the body’s stress response systems, improves nervous system balance and promotes brain changes that collectively build a more resilient psychological state.
Anxiety can reduce motivation to exercise, which lowers fitness and, in turn, increases vulnerability to anxiety, creating a self-reinforcing negative feedback loop.
Given the global burden and high cost of anxiety disorders, consistent physical activity is presented as a powerful, accessible and non-pharmacological intervention to mitigate the crisis.
In a stress-filled modern environment, an individual’s fitness level may determine whether a challenge is perceived as a minor annoyance or a major provocation, making fitness a key pillar of emotional stability.
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