Exercise may be one of the most powerful treatments for depression and anxiety

"Exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety, often performing as well as or better than medication or therapy. The effects span all ages, with particularly strong benefits for young adults and new mothers. Credit: Shutterstock Cardio activities such as running, swimming, and dancing appear to be especially effective at easing symptoms of depression and anxiety. That conclusion comes from a large scale (umbrella) review and data synthesis published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine."

"The analysis found that exercise done in supervised or group settings may provide the greatest benefit for people with depression. For anxiety, shorter programs lasting up to 8 weeks and involving lower intensity activity may be most helpful. Across the board, however, every type of exercise examined performed as well as, or better than, medication and talking therapies. These effects were seen regardless of age or sex."

"Depression and anxiety impact as many as 1 in 4 people globally, with young people and women experiencing the highest rates, according to the researchers. Earlier studies have already suggested that physical activity compares favorably with psychotherapy and medication for reducing symptoms. Still, important questions remained. It has not been fully understood how exercise works across different age groups, levels of intensity, or frequencies."

A large-scale umbrella review and data synthesis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found exercise significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, often performing as well as or better than medication and talking therapies. Cardio activities such as running, swimming, and dancing showed especially strong effects. Supervised or group exercise provided the greatest benefit for depression, while shorter programs up to eight weeks at lower intensity were most helpful for anxiety. Benefits occurred across ages and sexes, with particularly strong effects for young adults and new mothers. The analysis examined exercise type, duration, frequency, intensity, supervision, and individual versus group delivery.

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