Researchers are calling for exercise to become a key strategy in managing depression, with a new study showing that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or leading to approved medications.
The research paper was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is 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 to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety and grief. Specifically, the study found that exercise interventions of 12 weeks or less were most effective in reducing mental health symptoms, highlighting the speed at which physical activity can make a difference. .
The greatest benefits were seen in depressed people, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy people, and people with HIV or kidney disease.
According to the World Health Organization, one in eight people worldwide (970 million people) suffers from a mental disorder.
Poor mental health costs the global economy approximately $2.5 trillion a year, a cost that is expected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030.
UniSA Principal Investigator Dr Ben Singh said physical activity should be prioritized to better manage the rising incidence of mental health conditions.
Dr Singh explained: “Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. However, despite the evidence, it is not widely adopted as a first-line treatment. 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 greater signs of improvement. High-intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety, while longer periods of exercise had smaller effects compared to periods of short and moderate duration.”
He continued: “We also found that all types of physical activity and exercise are beneficial, including aerobic exercises such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga. Importantly, research shows that it doesn’t take a lot of exercise to make positive changes. to his mental health.” “.
Lead researcher Professor Carol Maher from the University of South Australia said the study was the first to assess the effects of all forms of physical activity on depression, anxiety and mental distress in an entire population of people with old enough. He added: “Reviewing these studies is an effective way for clinicians to easily understand the body of evidence supporting physical activity in the treatment of mental health disorders. We hope that this review will emphasize the need for physical activity-based physical activity, including structured exercise interventions. , as a primary strategy in the management of depression and anxiety.
Source: Medical Express
Source: Arabic RT
