A new review has found that exercise may help reduce symptoms of depression just as well as talk therapy. It may also work as well as antidepressant medication, although the evidence for that is less certain.
The review was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and looked at dozens of studies from around the world.
Depression is one of the most common health problems today. It affects over 280 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of illness and disability. Because exercise is free or low-cost and has many other health benefits, it could be a useful option for treating depression.
Researchers from the University of Lancashire reviewed 73 different studies involving nearly 5,000 adults with depression. These studies compared exercise to doing nothing, to talk therapy, and to taking antidepressants.
They found that people who exercised had fewer symptoms of depression than those who did not receive any treatment or who were part of a control group. The benefit was considered moderate, meaning it helped but wasn’t a cure.
When comparing exercise with psychological therapy, the results were similar. This means that for some people, exercise might work just as well as therapy.
The review also looked at how exercise compared to antidepressant medication. The results showed a similar effect, but the evidence for this comparison was not as strong. Many of the studies were small and only followed people for a short time. So, it is still unclear how long the benefits of exercise last.
Side effects from exercise were rare and usually involved minor injuries like sore muscles. For people taking medication, side effects included tiredness and stomach issues. Overall, exercise was found to be a safe and practical choice for many people.
Professor Andrew Clegg, the lead author, said the findings show that exercise can be a helpful way to manage depression. However, it’s important to remember that not every treatment works for everyone. Finding an activity that a person enjoys and can stick with is key.
The review also looked at different types of exercise and how often people should do it. Light to moderate exercise seemed to help more than very intense workouts. Doing between 13 and 36 exercise sessions was linked to the most improvement.
No one type of exercise stood out as the best, but programs that included a mix of activities or resistance training seemed more helpful than just aerobic exercises like running or cycling.
Some activities, like yoga, qigong, and stretching, were not included in the review. The authors noted that these are areas where more research is needed.
This updated review added 35 new studies to earlier versions from 2008 and 2013. But despite having more data, the main message is still the same: exercise can help reduce depression symptoms.
However, because many of the studies were small, more high-quality research is needed to learn which exercises work best, who benefits most, and how long the effects last.
In summary, exercise seems to be a safe and effective option for managing depression. It may not replace medication or therapy for everyone, but it could be a useful part of a larger treatment plan. For people who want to try something active and natural, regular movement might make a real difference in how they feel.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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