Physical activity is more effective than psychological therapy in depressed people - voila! health

Iris Cole interviews Dr. Oren Tana about depression and its treatment (Walla system)

People struggling with depression and anxiety often turn to therapy and medication for help.

But new research has found that exercise can be better at managing mental conditions than traditional treatment methods.

The review, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, looked at how exercise affected and improved depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

The research team indicated that they wanted to provide evidence of the positive effects of physical activity on depression, anxiety and symptoms of psychological distress in older adults.

The large-scale meta-analysis examined 1,039 research trials involving 128,119 participants, with a focus on mental disorders and people with various chronic conditions.

The team found that exercise had positive effects on all three mental states.

But people with depression had the highest benefit of all.

Exercise is very helpful in improving symptoms of depression.

A woman runs (Photo: ShutterStock)

The researchers noticed that more intense exercise led to greater improvements in symptoms.

However, the effectiveness of exercise decreased with longer interventions.

The team noted that brisk walking has a higher benefit than simple walking.

Exercising for six to 12 weeks also greatly improved symptoms compared to shorter periods of exercise.

Thus, they noted that long-term physical activity is essential for better mental health.

"Exercise is very beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress in a wide variety of adult populations, including the general population, people with diagnosed mental disorders, and people with chronic illness. Exercise should be a primary approach in the management of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress," the researchers wrote.

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Traditional treatments for depression and anxiety, including therapy and medication, are quite effective.

What the new study found was a simpler and more effective alternative that may not require as much money.

Physical activity affects mental health through several pathways, with short and long-term effects.

The most notable is the immediate relief after exercise when endorphins and dopamine are released in the brain.

The two work well in balancing pain control, mood stabilization, motivation and pleasure.

Although the new study adds evidence to the effectiveness of physical activity in managing mental health conditions, experts still recommend seeking professional help if you feel you are in a state of depression.

If you feel depressed and need help, contact the anonymous hotline of the Eran association

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