A new analysis finds that exercise is more beneficial for conditions such
as anxiety and depression than standard psychotherapy or medications. The
study found that essentially all forms of exercise produced significant
mental health benefits.Shorter, high intensity exercise programs produced the greatest
effect.
Exercise provided the greatest mental health benefit to people with
depression, or who had been diagnosed with HIV and kidney disease, pregnant
and postpartum women, and otherwise healthy adults.
as anxiety and depression than standard psychotherapy or medications. The
study found that essentially all forms of exercise produced significant
mental health benefits.Shorter, high intensity exercise programs produced the greatest
effect.
Exercise provided the greatest mental health benefit to people with
depression, or who had been diagnosed with HIV and kidney disease, pregnant
and postpartum women, and otherwise healthy adults.
An expansive analysis of existing research concludes that physical
activity should be viewed as a first-choice treatment for people living
with mental health issues. The analysis distills the conclusions of nearly
100 meta-reviews of randomized controlled trials.
Physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at reducing mild-to-moderate
symptoms of depression, psychological stress, and anxiety than medication
or cognitive behavior therapy, according to the study’s lead author, Dr.
Ben Singh.
While the value of physical activity for people with depression and
anxiety is widely recognized, it is not considered for managing such
conditions as often as the study asserts it should be.
