A recent study examined the effects of exercise on the prevention of depression and anxiety in a healthy cohort of 33,908 adults. Participants were selected on the basis of having no symptoms of common mental disorders or limiting physical conditions and were prospectively followed for 11 years. Validated measures of exercise, depression, anxiety, and a range of potential confounding and mediating factors were collected. Results suggest that regular leisure-time exercise is associated with reduced incidence of depression, but not anxiety. The majority of the protective effect occurred at low levels of exercise and was observed regardless of intensity. After adjusting for confounders, the population attributable fraction suggests that, assuming the relationship is causal, 12% of future cases of depression could have been prevented if all participants had engaged in at least 1 hour of physical activity each week. Regular exercise, regardless of intensity seems to provide protection against future depression, but not anxiety, and may have important public mental health benefits.
Reference:
>> Harvey SB, Øverland S, Hatch SL, Wessely S, Mykletun A, Hotopf M. Exercise and the Prevention of Depression: Results of the HUNT Cohort Study. Am J Psychiatry. 2017;:appiajp201716111223.