Exercise Improves Mental Health

Just 20 minutes of exercise per week can boost your mental health and help lift depression and anxiety, a new study suggests. It doesn’t matter what type of activity you do but the more strenuous it is the better.

The research was carried out by University College London (UCL) and looked at 20,000 men and women who had participated in a Scottish health survey. They were questioned about their mental health and their physical activity levels. The survey revealed that people who were most active were less likely to suffer from stress or anxiety but that any form of physical activity, including housework and gardening, could boost mental health.

Those who were involved in sport were 33% less likely to experience mental health problems while activities such as housework and walking reduced the risk of anxiety by 20%. To be effective the activity needs to be done for at least 20 minutes at a level that induces breathlessness.

The researchers say that while many studies have shown a link between exercise and improved mental health this is the first time the amount of activity needed to make a difference has been quantified. However, they admit that those with mental health problems may be less likely to exercise in the first place.
Details of these findings are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Posted Thursday 17th April 2008