Exercise and depression

An international team led by the Black Dog Institute in Australia monitored exercise levels and symptoms of depression and anxiety in 33,908 Norwegian adults for more than 11 years.  The study’s purpose was to examine if exercise provides protection against new onset depression and anxiety and if so what intensity and duration works best.

The study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that the individuals who at baseline reported doing no exercise had a 44% higher chance of developing depression compared with those who exercised at least 1-2 hours a week.  The study found it to be true for all types of exercise at all different levels of intensity.  Interestingly the same was not found to be true for those individuals with anxiety. 

NOTE:  The Black Dog Institute, founded in 2002 in Sydney Australia is a not for profit facility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.