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Updated: May 10, 2026

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Leisure-time physical activity and psychotropic medication: a prospective cohort study
Jouni Lahti1, Tea Lallukka, Eero Lahelma
1Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. jouni.mm.lahti@helsinki.fi
Background:
Physical inactivity is a major public health problem associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of leisure-time physical activity with subsequent psychotropic medication among middle-aged people employed at baseline.
Methods:
Questionnaire survey data collected in 2000-02 among 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (N = 8960) were linked with register data on prescribed psychotropic medication (74% gave permission to linkage). The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. The analysis included 5961 respondents (78% women). The participants were classified into four groups according to physical activity recommendations. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for the first psychotropic medication purchase.
Results:
Leisure-time physical activity was associated with decreased risk of any psychotropic medication. After adjusting for prior psychotropic medication conditioning exercisers (HR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.53-0.80), the vigorously active (HR = 0.83, 95% CI, 0.71-0.98) and the moderately active (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) all showed a reduced risk of medication compared with the inactive. The associations were similar for the two main groups of psychotropic medication: antidepressants as well as sedatives and sleep medication.
Conclusions:
Leisure-time physical activity is potentially important for preventing mental health problems among the middle-aged.
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