Exercise can help moderate some of the adverse effects of an unhealthy diet on depression-like symptoms in rats, according to a recent study published in Brain Medicine .
The study, conducted in a rat model, showed that exercise helped reduce depressive and anxiety-like symptoms induced by a high-fat, high-sugar diet.
The study's findings suggest that exercise could mitigate the effects of an unhealthy diet on mood by normalizing levels of metabolic hormones, such as insulin and leptin, and attenuating the decline in certain metabolites produced by the gut microbiome.
The study's lead author, Yvonne Nolan , professor in anatomy and neuroscience at University College Cork, said, "Our findings provide important proof-of-concept that exercise can mitigate some unhealthy diet-related mental health effects and point to specific biological pathways involved. More research is needed to confirm these effects in humans and understand the full mechanistic picture."
The ease of access to ultra-processed foods that are high in sugar and saturated fats has led to an upsurge in obesity and other metabolic conditions. This increase in the prevalence of obesity has been compounded by the lack of physical activity and sedentary lifestyles.
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