If you’re feeling blue, you might want to lace up your sneakers and hit the gym. A new study from the University of South Australia shows that physical activity is more effective than counseling or medication for managing depression.
Here’s why exercise is the best medicine for your mental health.
The Benefits of Physical Activity for Mental Health
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, reviewed 97 reviews, 1039 trials and 128,119 participants. It found that physical activity significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress in all clinical populations. The largest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy individuals, and people diagnosed with HIV or kidney disease.
Physical activity can boost your mood by releasing endorphins, improving blood flow to the brain, reducing inflammation, and increasing social interaction. It can also help you cope with stress, improve your self-esteem, and enhance your cognitive function.
The study showed that exercise interventions that were 12 weeks or shorter were the most effective at reducing mental health symptoms, highlighting the speed at which physical activity can make a change.
The Best Types of Exercise for Mental Health
The study also revealed that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial for mental health, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga. However, higher intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety, while longer durations had smaller effects when compared to short and mid-duration bursts.
The type of exercise that works best for you may depend on your preferences, goals, fitness level, and availability. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy and can stick to. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym or run a marathon to reap the benefits of physical activity. Even a brisk walk around the block or a dance session in your living room can lift your spirits and improve your well-being.
The Implications of the Study for Mental Health Management
The study is the first to evaluate the effects of all types of physical activity on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in all adult populations. It provides strong evidence for physical activity as a mainstay approach for managing mental health disorders. The researchers hope that this review will encourage clinicians to prescribe physical activity as a first-choice treatment for their patients.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every eight people worldwide (970 million people) live with a mental disorder. Poor mental health costs the world economy approximately $2.5 trillion each year, a cost projected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030. In Australia, an estimated one in five people (aged 16–85) have experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months.
Physical activity can offer a cost-effective, accessible, and safe way to prevent and treat mental health problems.
If you’re looking for a natural and effective way to boost your mood and mental health, look no further than physical activity. Whether you prefer walking, lifting weights, doing yoga, or playing sports, exercise can help you feel happier, healthier, and more resilient.
So what are you waiting for? Get moving today and see how exercise can beat depression faster than drugs.
Commentaires