Now, researchers say exercise may help reduce depression symptoms as effectively as other first-line treatments.
A recently updated Cochrane review found that exercise yielded similar results to psychological therapy. When compared to antidepressants , however, the evidence was less clear.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting around 21 million adults . In 2021, approximately 61% of U.S. adults experiencing depression received treatment.
Exercise is a low cost option for symptom management that is widely available, making it an ideal treatment option for individuals and their prescribing healthcare team.
“Our findings suggest that exercise appears to be a safe and accessible option for helping to manage symptoms of depression,” lead study author Andrew Clegg , PhD, professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Leeds said in a press release .
“This suggests that exercise works well for some people, but not for everyone, and finding approaches that individuals are willing and able to maintain is important,” Clegg continued.
The review examined 73 randomized controlled trials that included nearly 5,000 adults with depression.
The examined studies compared exercise with control interventions or no treatment, as well as with antidepressant medications and psychological therapies.
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