Overview

• Among smokers aged 40 and older, meeting U.S. physical activity targets was associated with depression and sleep risks comparable to non-smokers.
• Adults 20 to 39 who smoked and met activity targets still showed elevated sleep problems compared with non-smokers.
• Smokers overall reported higher rates of moderate to severe depressive symptoms and sleep disorders, with particularly high risk in inactive adults aged 40 to 59.
• The analysis drew on 3,008 adults from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative dataset.
• Activity was benchmarked to about 300 minutes of moderate or 150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, and the Health Education & Behavior paper reports no conflicts of interest.