Exercise is more effective than medication for Mental Health: Study

• Physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at treating depression.
• Than psychotherapy or the most common drugs.
•  People with depression experiencing the greatest benefits.

Experts at the University of South Australia say that a new study shows that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at treating depression than psychotherapy or the most common drugs.

The review, which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and included 97 reviews, 1039 trials, and 128,119 participants, is the most extensive one to date. It demonstrates that engaging in physical activity significantly reduces distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms.

In particular, the review revealed that exercise interventions that lasted no longer than 12 weeks were most effective at reducing symptoms of mental health, highlighting the rapid change that physical activity can bring about.

People who had been diagnosed with HIV or kidney disease, pregnant and postpartum women, people in good health, and people with depression experienced the greatest benefits.

The World Health Organization estimates that one in eight people (or 970 million) worldwide suffer from a mental illness.

The global economy incurs approximately $2.5 trillion in annual costs due to poor mental health, which are anticipated to rise to $6 trillion by 2030. An estimated one in five Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 have been affected by a mental illness in the past year.

Dr. Ben Singh, the principal researcher at UniSA, asserts that physical activity should be prioritized in order to better manage the rising number of mental health conditions.

“It is known that physical activity can help improve mental health. However, despite the evidence, it has not been widely used as a treatment of choice,” states Dr. Singh.

“Our review demonstrates that physical activity interventions can significantly reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in all clinical populations, with some groups experiencing even greater improvements.

“Compared to short and mid-duration bursts, higher intensity exercise had greater effects on depression and anxiety, while longer durations had smaller effects.

“We also discovered that all forms of physical activity, including aerobic exercise like walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga, were beneficial.

“It is important to note that the research demonstrates that it does not require much exercise to improve mental health.”

Prof. Carol Maher, a senior researcher at UniSA, claims that the study is the first to examine the effects of all forms of physical activity on psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in all adult populations.

“An effective method for clinicians to easily comprehend the body of evidence that supports physical activity in the management of mental health disorders is to examine these studies as a whole.

“We hope this review will highlight the necessity of physical activity, including structured exercise interventions, as a primary approach to managing depression and anxiety.”

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