Study Shows Mental Health Benefits More From Exercise Than Medication
Many of us may struggle to face life from one day to the next. It can be difficult, and we may end up struggling with mental issues as a result.
For some people, the solution to all of their problems comes in the form of a pill. Certainly, many doctors are willing to hand out medication for mental health, but is that the best choice?
Something interesting came up in a study by researchers from the University of South Australia. When they compared medication use with exercise, they found that exercise was a much more effective way of treating mental illness, including depression.
The study, which used 97 reviews, was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Up to 128,000 participants were part of the study, so it was the most extensive that has ever been done on the topic.
According to Science Alert, the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Ben Singh, said: “Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. Yet despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a first-choice treatment.”
This is amazing news, especially because the CDC says that one in five individuals will be diagnosed with a mental health issue or disorder.
Some of the treatment options that were considered by the CDC include medication, counseling, psychotherapy, and rehabilitation. The one thing they didn’t consider was the possibility that exercise can help.
Another one of the researchers for the study, Prof. Carol Maher, said that this research is the first of a kind that shows how physical activity can benefit psychological disorders.
Per Science Alert, she said: “Examining these studies as a whole is an effective way to for clinicians to easily understand the body of evidence that supports physical activity in managing mental health disorders.”
Dr. Maher also says the review shows the need for physical activity, including structured exercise to help with depression and anxiety.
One important factor that was considered in the study was the exercise intervals. The most effective intervals were an exercise that took place for 12 weeks or less. Even making small changes in a short period could be of benefit.
High-intensity exercise was also beneficial for depression and anxiety, but any physical activity showed benefit and could “significantly reduce symptoms.”
Although it showed benefits for many types of mental health, those that suffered from depression seem to get the most out of it. This included women who had kidney disease and those who were suffering from postpartum depression. Even people who were totally healthy benefited from exercise.
The doctor went on to say that they found that all types of physical activity and exercise was beneficial. This included doing aerobic exercise, such as Pilates or walking. They also said that it doesn’t take a lot of exercise to see positive results in your mental health. The most important thing was to get out there and do it.
