These exercises may do a better job treating depression than medicine
Newsy
Exercise can improve both mental and physical health and could serve as an alternative to antidepressants, a researcher says.
An analysis published Wednesday in medical journal The BMJ indicates that several types of exercise were "superior" to antidepressants for treating depression.
The study included 218 randomized controlled trials with 14,170 participants from multiple countries.
According to study lead author Juan Ángel Bellón of the University of Malaga in Spain, walking or jogging, yoga, and strength training appeared to be more effective than other types of exercises.
The study noted that increasing the intensity helped make exercising more effective at treating depression, but even low-intensity exercise had benefits.
"Primary care clinicians can now recommend exercise, psychotherapy, or antidepressants as standalone alternatives for adults with mild or moderate depression," Bellón wrote. "The final choice depends on patient preference and other considerations, including any barriers to access. Clinicians and patients should also take into account the benefits of exercise in preventing or treating chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive impairment."
