Children 'need more exercise to tackle rising levels of depression'

A new international study of children from birth to age 18 concluded that organised sports appear to protect youngsters against mental illness. Ella Pickover reports

- 

LAYING football, rugby or netball as a child could help ward off mental health problems in adolescence, a new study suggests.

But time playing sports appears to taper off during children's school years, researchers found.

The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined data on more than 16,000 children in Sweden.

They were tracked from birth to the age of 18, with information gathered about their physical activity levels, time spent outdoors and time spend participating in organised sports.

Researchers also gathered information on whether or not the children were diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders.

During the study period, 15% of the youngsters were diagnosed with mental illness, including anxiety, depression, sleep problems and eating disorders.