Workouts as Effective as Therapy or Medication for Depression, Study Suggests
Hitting the gym might be perfect for more than just your physical health. It turns out, it could also have a significant impact on your mental wellbeing. A recent study reveals that exercise can be just as beneficial for people battling depression as other popular treatments.
Researchers from the UK analyzed a number of medical studies on exercise and depression. Their findings strongly suggest that working out can at least temporarily alleviate symptoms of depression, and its effects could be comparable to therapy or even antidepressants. The study highlights the need for further research but underscores the importance of considering exercise as an additional tool for managing depression.
Detailed Examination of Exercise and Depression
The research team, led by Professor Andrew Clegg, undertook an exhaustive analysis of clinical trial data on behalf of a well-regarded British research organization that focuses on critical public health issues.
They scrutinized 73 randomized trials comprising nearly 5,000 adults with depression. Among these, 57 trials compared the effects of exercise against no treatment or a control group, ten trials pitted exercise against therapy, and five compared the effects of exercise to antidepressants.
After thorough examination, the researchers concluded that exercise is consistently more effective in reducing depression compared to no treatment, although the extent of this reduction is likely to be moderate. However, the long-term benefits of exercise on depression still need further investigation.
The study’s findings also suggest that there may be “minimal to no difference” in depression symptoms between individuals who regularly workout and those undergoing therapy. This appears to be the case when comparing exercise and antidepressant usage as well, though more concrete evidence is needed in this aspect.
Light or Moderate Workouts May Be More Beneficial
The research team found that light or moderate intensity workouts might be more beneficial for mitigating depression than intense exercises. Furthermore, a diversified exercise regimen or resistance training could be more effective than solely focusing on aerobic exercises.
Further Research Is Needed
While this study adds to the growing body of research suggesting that exercise can be as effective as conventional treatments for depression, the authors emphasize the need for more comprehensive and high-quality randomized trials to better understand this relationship.
“Additional research should focus on the type of exercise that is most effective in the long run, the ideal duration and intensity of the exercise, and the individuals who are most likely to benefit from it,” Professor Clegg explained.
Exercise is indisputably beneficial for overall health and typically comes with few side effects. The study noted that adverse events related to exercise were rare. Some research even suggests that combining exercise with other interventions like therapy can be even more effective than either alone.
People suffering from depression should be encouraged to explore treatments they feel most comfortable with, and exercise appears to be a solid choice to consider.