Exercise should be recommended as a standard treatment for depression
It could improve treatment efficacy while providing an additional therapy option for many people
Robust research has shown the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment against depression , providing more details on the specific interventions that may offer the greatest benefits .
An international team of researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 218 clinical trials that included more than 14,000 participants and found out that walking , running , and strength training , as well as yoga and mixed aerobic exercise , had benefits similar to cognitive behavioural therapy , a common treatment for depression where experts help people change their behaviours and ways of thinking . These physical activities were also better than SS� or so-called antidepressants , which are commonly prescribed in many countries and often used as a standalone approach to depression .
“ Antidepressants certainly help some people . And of course , anyone getting treatment for depression should talk to their doctor before changing what they are doing . Still , our evidence shows that if you have depression , you should get a psychologist and an exercise plan , whether or not you ’ re taking antidepressants , � Dr Michael Noetel , lead study author , wrote in The Conversation .
The most impactful approach was to give people a clear programme that could push them to exercise , he added , instead of giving them general advice on the benefits of doing physical activity . �Programs with clear structure worked better , compared with those that gave people lots of freedom . Exercising by yourself might also make it hard to set the bar at the right level , given low self-esteem is a symptom of depression ,” he wrote .
The amount of time spent exercising didn ’ t make a difference , but intensity did . Higher intensity exercises were more effective than lower ones .
While having ups and downs in mood is a normal part of life for most people , depression often involves loss of pleasure or interest in most activities for long periods of time . It can also lead to di�culties at work or school and , in the most severe cases , even to suicide . The World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimates that about 2�0 million people experience depression , but more than 75 percent of people in low- and middleincome countries receive no treatment due to the
lack of services and social stigma associated with psychological problems .
The analysis published this year in the BM� is just the latest in a long list of studies backing up the e�cacy of exercise against psychological problems .
A large meta-analysis published last year looked into 1,039 trials with more than 128,000 participants and concluded that physical activity was highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression , anxiety , and distress in a variety of people , including those diagnosed with so-called mental health disorders or chronic diseases as well as the general population .
Despite such evidence , in some countries exercise is still considered a �backup plan� against depression , wrote Dr Noetel . The American Psychological Association recommends it only as an alternative or complementary approach if talk therapy and drugs are ineffective or unacceptable . The opposite is true in Australia and New Zealand , where psychiatry organisations recommend vigorous aerobic exercise two to three times a week for everyone with depression .
�Given how common depression is , and the number failing to receive care , other countries should follow suit and recommend exercise alongside front-line treatments for depression ,” he wrote .
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