There is research that shows a mental health benefit from regularly exercising. People who reported being physically active were less likely to be diagnosed with depression. People who met the recommended amount of exercise a week were most likely to see this association.
Exercise is one of the healthiest things a person can do, and many studies in recent years have found that it can keep both the body and brain sharp. It is known that physical activity can help people with mental health problems. The protective effect that different levels of exercise may have in preventing depression is the subject of a new research.
The study looked at data from 15 population studies. A retrospective study can only look back in time, making it harder to confirm a cause-and-effect link between a factor and a health. Participants in the reviewed studies were asked about their level of physical activity and their history of clinical depression.
The study found that people who reported being physically active had a lower risk of depression. People who met the minimal duration of exercise recommended by many public health organizations had a 25% lower risk of depression. Minor additional benefits were seen in people who exercised more. If less active people could meet the recommended level of physical activity, up to 11% of future cases of depression would be prevented.
The effect of exercise on depression risk is overstated by the authors. It is possible that depressed people who are not yet diagnosed would be less likely to exercise. They only analyzed studies with longer follow-up times, but they note that there may still be bias. The authors want more studies that can rule out any other factors that might be related to the link between exercise and depression.
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