Relation between body factors, physical activity, and mental health among adult women and men: The Korea national health and nutrition examination survey

BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity (PA) has a negative effect on mental health. Many countries try to promote PA. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) aims to promote PA and the importance of the recognition of subjective health and body image and mental health. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to analyze the relationship among body factors, PA, and mental health of Korean adults using the seventh KNHANES (2018) survey. METHODS: KNHANES is a cross-sectional survey and investigates every 3 years. Data contain 4416 households (19-65-year-old) responses, and it was weighted average or sample fraction by reflecting the sampling and response rate of population ratio. International PA Questionnaire, metabolic equivalents tasks, Health Enhancing PA, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Body factors, subjective health recognition, and subjective body image recognition were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, and Pearson's r. RESULTS: Correlation among PA and mental health, PA of females was correlated with stress. The PA of males was highly related to the overall mental health. In the differences by gender and PA, females enjoying exercise have a tendency of less body mass index (BMI) and more satisfied with subjective body image. Males showed no difference in BMI but on body factors; males with vigorous activity were higher on height and weight than males with walking activity. Mental health with PA, females with walking activity showed higher depression than females with moderate activity. Likewise, males with walking activity exhibited higher depression than males with moderate and vigorous activity. Females and males showed their PA affects perceived stress. CONCLUSION: These results suggest promoting PA may lead to enhance mental health.