Moderate exercise is associated with a lower depression risk

Precise News

Summary: Low to moderate intensity exercise significantly reduces depression rates.
Key Facts: Low to moderate intensity physical activities reduce the risk of depression by 23% and anxiety by 26%.
Unlike high-intensity exercise, moderate activities like walking and gardening show a stronger link to mental health benefits without increasing stress responses.
Source: Anglia Ruskin University New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression.
A particularly strong association was found between low and moderate physical activity, which included activities such as gardening, golf and walking, and reduced risk of depression.
Moderate exercise can improve mental health through biochemical reactions, whereas high-intensity exercise may worsen stress-related responses in some individuals.
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews Abstract Physical activity and prevention of mental health complications: An umbrella review The potential of physical activity in preventing mental health issues has garnered interest among health professionals.
These findings underscore the physical activity’s potential as a preventative measure against mental health complications, highlighting the importance of promoting physical activity in mental health interventions.

NEUTRAL

In conclusion, exercise of a low to moderate intensity dramatically lowers rates of depression. Physical activities such as walking and gardening have been linked to a 26% reduction in anxiety and a 23% decrease in depression risk, according to an umbrella review that examined research from around the world.

Based on individual needs and capacities, exercise recommendations should be customized. These findings emphasize the value of accessible physical activities in mental health strategies.

Important Information:.

Physical activity at low to moderate intensity lowers the risk of anxiety by 26% and depression by 23%.

Moderate physical activities, such as gardening and walking, have a stronger correlation with mental health benefits than high-intensity exercise, but they don’t exacerbate stress responses.

Physical activity has been shown to have positive effects on mental health in a variety of global demographics, highlighting its broad applicability.

Originally from Anglia Ruskin University.

Low- to moderate-intensity exercise has been linked to a significant decrease in depression rates, according to recent research.

The potential of physical activity as a mental health intervention was investigated by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) through an extensive review of studies conducted worldwide.

Physical activity decreased the risk of anxiety by 26% and depression by 23%, according to an analysis published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews.

Low and moderate physical activity, which included sports like walking, golfing, and gardening, was found to have a particularly strong correlation with a lower risk of depression. With high-intensity exercise, this was not, however, clearly noted.

Additionally, there was a significant correlation found between physical activity and a decreased risk of severe mental health conditions, such as a 27% decrease in psychosis and schizophrenia.

Globally, among various age groups, and for both men and women, the outcomes were consistent.

Lead author Lee Smith, an Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) professor of public health, stated: “Preventing mental health complications effectively has emerged as a major challenge in the field of public health.”.

Due to the complexity of these conditions, treatment must be multifaceted and may include lifestyle modifications, psychotherapy, and pharmacological interventions.

These links between depression and physical activity level emphasize the need for specific exercise recommendations. While high-intensity exercise may exacerbate stress-related reactions in certain people, moderate exercise can enhance mental health through biochemical reactions.

Effective mental health strategies must take into account the fact that each person responds to exercise differently, meaning that any activity recommendations should be customized for each individual.

Given that these activity levels may be more attainable for people who can make smaller lifestyle changes without feeling they need to commit to a high-intensity exercise program, it is especially noteworthy that even low to moderate levels of physical activity can be beneficial for mental health. “.

About this research on exercise and depression.

Written by Jamie Forsyth.

Originally from Anglia Ruskin University.

Jamie Forsyth at Anglia Ruskin University is the point of contact.

Picture: Neuroscience News is credited with this picture.

Original Study: A publicly accessible resource.

An umbrella review by Lee Smith et al. on the relationship between physical activity and the prevention of mental health complications. Reviews of Biobehavioral and Neuroscience.

Inabst.

An overview on the relationship between physical activity and preventing mental health issues.

Health professionals are becoming interested in the potential of physical activity to prevent mental health issues. We carried out a comprehensive review of the literature to support the link between physical exercise and preventing mental health issues.

Higher levels of physical activity were found to be significantly associated with a lower risk of depression (OR = 0.77, 95 percent CI 0.72 – 0.82). Regardless of age, gender, or geographic location, this correlation held true.

It’s interesting to note that physical activity with low and moderate intensities had the strongest protective effects against depression (low intensity: OR = 0.81, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.75–0.56; moderate intensity: OR = 0.79, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.72–0.87). Higher levels of physical activity and the prevention of anxiety disorders were also found to be significantly correlated by our analysis (OR = 0.71, 95 percent CI: 0.61–0.82).

It was less evident, though, how physical activity and the risk of psychosis or schizophrenia were related.

.

scroll to top