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Exercise could significantly lower depression risk
A study has shown that exercise could lower depression risk by 19 per cent.
By Alison Wade
Many runners are anecdotally aware of the mood-elevating benefits of running, and research published online in JAMA Psychiatry provides further support for that notion. The study found that subjects who exercised three times a week were 19 per cent less likely to be depressed.
Researchers also found that young people who are depressed are less likely to be physically active, but that association disappeared with age. They noted that depression could be a "potential barrier" to becoming physically active.
The research relied on data from approximately 11,000 participants in a longitudinal study, which measured physical activity and depressive symptoms at ages 23, 33, 42, and 50.
Researchers report that when previously inactive people began exercising three times per week, they lowered their depression risk by 19 per cent. Each additional workout session reduced the chances of depression by six per cent.
"Importantly, this effect was seen across the whole population and not just in those at high risk of clinical depression," said lead author Dr. Snehal M. Pinto Pereira, as reported by Medical News Today. "The more physically active people were, the fewer depressive symptoms they reported. Just as someone might be a little overweight but not clinically overweight or obese, many people who are not clinically depressed could still experience some depressive symptoms."
While not suggesting that exercise (or running) can be a cure-all, researchers noted that their work suggests that physical activity could be a valuable part of a treatment plan.
"From a clinical perspective, our study suggests that practitioners helping patients to recover from depression might address activity within their treatment plan for lifestyle factors," the researchers wrote.
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