Researchers are calling for exercise to be the primary treatment for depression, and a new study shows that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or approved leading drugs.
The research article was published in the British Journal. of Sports medicine, the most comprehensive study to date, with 97 reviews, 1039 scientific trials and 128,119 participants.
The results showed that physical activity is very beneficial in alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress. In particular, the study found that exercise for 12 weeks or less was most effective in reducing mental health symptoms, highlighting the speed at which physical activity can make a difference.
The greatest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy people, and people with HIV or kidney disease.
According to the World Health Organization, one in eight people in the world (970 million people) suffer from a mental disorder.
Poor mental health costs the global economy an estimated $2.5 trillion a year, and this amount is expected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030.
UniSA lead researcher Dr. Ben Singh says physical activity should be a priority to better manage the rising incidence of mental illness.
Dr. Singh explains: “Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. However, despite the evidence, it is not widely accepted as a treatment of first choice. Our review shows that physical activity interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with “all clinical populations, with some groups showing more pronounced signs of improvement. High-intensity exercise showed greater improvement in depression and anxiety, while longer periods of exercise had less effect compared to short and medium periods.”
He continued: “We have also found that all forms of physical activity and exercise are beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, strength training, Pilates and yoga. It is important to note that studies show that it does not take much exercise to achieve positive changes in your mental health.”
Lead researcher Professor Carol Maher of the University of South Australia says this is the first study to evaluate the effects of all types of physical activity on depression, anxiety and psychiatric disorders in an entire adult population. She added: “Studying these studies as a whole is an effective way for clinicians to easily understand the body of evidence supporting physical activity in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. We hope this review will highlight the need for physical activity, including structured physical activity.” exercise as a primary approach to managing depression and anxiety.”
Source: Medical Express
You must log in to post a comment.