healthbrief
Moderate Exercise Guards Against Depression
Mental Health Benefits of Fitness
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In Exercise and the Prevention of Depression, a study of 33,908 adults in Norway by the University of New South Wales, researchers found that one hour of exercise a week reduced depression in 12 percent of the subjects.
The purpose of the study was to address whether exercise protects against new-onset depression and anxiety and if so, the intensity and amount of exercise required.
They concluded that regular leisure-time exercise of any intensity provides protection against future depression, but not anxiety.
Thus, increasing the population of people exercising may provide public mental health benefits and prevent a substantial number of new cases of depression.