Exercise, Depression and Anxiety

Can you envision the transformative impact on the world if we had a dependable means to positively influence the mental well-being of individuals working through depression and anxiety?

Approximately 20% of adults in the United States contend with mild to moderate depression, a conservative estimate compared to other sources, equating to 51.5 million people, according to Statista. 

Here's the astounding part: we possess an intervention proven to be 1.5 times more effective than medication and therapy for mild to moderate depression, and it's called exercise. According to a study analyzing 97 reviews with 128,119 participants dealing with various chronic mental health disorders and diseases, exercise proved 1.5 times more effective in treating depression and anxiety.

Why is this significant? aka Huh?

Mental health problems rank among the most substantial contributors to the global healthcare expenditure, with depression being the largest contributor and anxiety the most prevalent. The estimated cost of mental health disorders globally is a staggering $2.5 billion, surpassing the GDP (gross domestic product) of many small countries.

Make that make sense.

In 2019, one in 8 people worldwide experienced a mental health disorder, and 44% will confront a mental health disorder in their lifetime. This means that 12.5% of those you know are contending with a mental illness, and almost half of the people you encounter daily will face such challenges at some point in their lives.

Why isn't exercise the primary treatment? (What the what?)

These statistics prompt a crucial question: "Why isn't exercise the foremost prescription for depression and anxiety?" The answer is simple; it's difficult to motivate mentally healthy individuals to exercise, and even more challenging for those working through depression and anxiety.

Moreover, mental health professionals may lack the tools to monitor or prescribe fitness to their patients. This study and the pioneering efforts in the mental health field aim to change that. Until then, consider these facts for your mental well-being.

What should you do?

The American Guidelines for Physical Activity recommend 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise and two days of strength activities per week as an excellent starting point. While these guidelines won't propel you to podiums, they prove effective against various chronic diseases.

The same study yielded two noteworthy findings: higher-intensity workouts had a more substantial impact on mental health, and shorter workouts were more effective than prolonged ones. In practical terms, you don't need to live in the gym to reap the mental health benefits of exercise. 

Eat, Sleep, Move.