Exercise Should Be The First Choice In Treating Depression

March 6, 2023

Exercise should be the primary
treatment for depression and other common mental health
conditions, according to University of South Australia
(UniSA) researchers.

The most comprehensive review of
research to date shows that mild to moderate symptoms of
depression, anxiety, and psychological distress can be
alleviated with physical activity.

According to their
research, exercise is 1.5 times more effective than
counselling and top medications, ExerciseNZ chief executive
Richard Beddie says.

The study found that 12-week or
shorter exercise interventions reduced mental health
symptoms the most. The review has been published in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine.

Beddie says the
benefits of exercise as it relates to mental health,
especially depression, are now well known, but this new
groundbreaking research shows that its actually the most
effective treatment and better than counselling and/or
pharmaceuticals.

“Anti-depressants are one of the
most over prescribed drugs globally and the second most
prescribed drug in the US.

“Some research
goes so far to say that the key advantages for many is from
the placebo effect, not the active ingredients.

“In
New Zealand, the
rate is over half a million (543,000 in 2020), meaning
more than 10 percent of Kiwis are prescribed
anti-depressants annually.

“Physical activity is not
only protective against depression, but also the most
effective treatment tool, according to the latest
research.

“Government announced more than a
$1billion dollars was to be invested on wellness in 2019,
but very little went into prevention, or using other
non-medical interventions.

“Exercise also has the
huge benefit that it gives people control over their own
treatment. They secure that control and are responsible for
their own improvement. The results can be surprisingly quick
and people feel the empowerment of exercise far quicker than
any other method.”

Beddie calls on the government
and in particular the new health minister to work with
ExerciseNZ to save on cost of prescriptions and also help
people get control of their own lives and reduce depression
rates.

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of
health problems in New Zealand and around the world. It is
costly for people and for society, poor mental health
affected one in eight people in 2019 and recent studies show
up to one in five people experience higher levels of
psychological distress during middle age.

Physical
activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of
depression, anxiety and distress across a wide range of
adult populations, including the general population, people
with diagnosed mental health disorders and people with
chronic
disease.

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