An analysis of data from the National Survey of Children’s Health has found that physically inactive children exhibit higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their physically active peers. This trend was especially pronounced in children with autism and ADHD, who had significantly higher prevalence rates of these disorders than their healthy peers, regardless of physical activity levels. The research was published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are among the most common developmental disorders. Of the two, ADHD is more prevalent, affecting approximately 5–7% of children globally, while autism affects 1–2%.
ASD is a developmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction,…