Exercise is better than anti-depressants for treating depression.
Exercise is a great way to combat depression
Walking, jogging, yoga and strength training appeared to be just as useful as therapy at treating the mental health condition, according to a major new analysis conducted by academics in Australia and published in The BMJ.
Vigorous exercise had the most impact but even less strenuous activities had meaningful benefits.
Researchers drew their results from 218 clinical trials involving more than 14,000 people from various countries and found that the effect of exercise was superior to anti-depressants.
However, the impact of the drugs was improved when they were combined with physical activity.
The team wrote in the study: "Exercise is an effective treatment for depression, with walking or jogging, yoga and strength training more effective than other exercises, particularly when intense.
"Exercise appeared equally effective for people with and without comorbidities and with different baseline levels of depression."
The academics added: "These forms of exercise could be considered alongside psychotherapy and antidepressants as core treatments for depression."