Exercise Proven 1.5 Times More Effective Than Medication and Counseling in Managing Mental Health

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine highlights the importance of exercise as a primary approach for managing depression. Researchers from the University of South Australia have conducted the most comprehensive review to date, encompassing 97 reviews, 1039 trials, and 128,119 participants. The results show that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or medication in improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress.

The study found that exercise interventions lasting 12 weeks or less were the most effective at reducing mental health symptoms, and the largest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy individuals, and people diagnosed with HIV or kidney disease.  All types of physical activity and exercise, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga, were beneficial.

Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, it has not been widely adopted as a first-choice treatment for mental health conditions. According to the World Health Organization, around 970 million people worldwide live with a mental disorder, costing the world economy approximately $2.5 trillion each year. In Australia, an estimated one in five people aged 16 to 85 has experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months.

Lead UniSA researcher Dr. Ben Singh highlights the need for physical activity to be prioritized as a first-line approach for managing mental health conditions. He notes that exercise interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in all clinical populations, and higher intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety. All types of physical activity and exercise were found to be beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga. The review underscores the importance of structured exercise interventions as a mainstay approach for managing depression and anxiety.

Senior researcher, UniSA’s Prof Carol Maher, emphasized that the study is the first to evaluate the effects of all types of physical activity on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in all adult populations. She said that examining these studies as a whole is an effective way for clinicians to understand the body of evidence that supports physical activity in managing mental health disorders. The study underscores the need for physical activity, including structured exercise interventions, as a mainstay approach for managing depression and anxiety.