- Home
- Medical news & Guidelines
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology and CTVS
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstretics-Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Pediatrics-Neonatology
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diet
- Nursing
- Paramedical
- Physiotherapy
- Health news
- AYUSH
- State News
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Puducherry
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttrakhand
- West Bengal
- Medical Education
- Industry
Regular exercise may help alleviate symptoms of depression, finds study
![Regular exercise may help alleviate symptoms of depression, finds study Regular exercise may help alleviate symptoms of depression, finds study](https://medicaldialogues.in/h-upload/2020/02/01/750x450_123774-depression.webp)
Exercise has shown to be beneficial for many diseases and is an inexpensive, easily modifiable lifestyle factor with virtually no negative side effects.
According to a recent review published in BMC Public Health, exercise interventions have a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms in the general population across a wide age-range.
Mental health disorder affects about 150 million people worldwide at any moment. Approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 8 men suffer from a major depressive episode during their lifetime.
Cross-sectional studies have previously shown exercise and depression to be associated, and prospective studies have indicated that low exercise may precede the onset of depression. However, evidence for a beneficial effect of exercise interventions on the prevention of depression differs substantially across different studies.
Looking at the inconsistencies in the previous researches, researchers sought to undertake the present systematic review with the aims to give an overview of meta-analyses of randomized trials published from data inception to July 2018 on the effect of exercise interventions on depression and depressive symptoms.
A systematic search was performed up to July 2018 using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane, and all related articles were included.
Results revealed the following important facts.
Eight meta-analyses were included that showed little overlap in 134 included studies. All meta-analyses reported on depressive symptoms rather than the onset of depression. Five of these were rated as moderate quality and three of low quality.
Six meta-analyses found significant effects, and two found non-significant effects of exercise interventions in reducing depressive symptoms in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (effect sizes ranging from − 0.10 to − 0.81).
Scarce evidence did not allow to conclude the role of sex and characteristics of exercise on depression. However, some findings suggest that low-intensity exercise was as effective as high-intensity exercise.
Heterogeneity among primary studies was high, likely caused by differences in study quality and type of exercises.
"As exercise has shown to be beneficial for many health aspects and is an inexpensive, easily modifiable lifestyle factor with virtually no negative side effects, the evidence from this systematic review might help to develop early intervention strategies for depression." Concluded the researchers.
For the full article click on the link: Hu, M.X., Turner, D., Generaal, E. et al. Exercise interventions for the prevention of depression: a systematic review of meta-analyses. BMC Public Health 20, 1255 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09323-y
Primary source: BMC Public Health
Dr Satabdi Saha (BDS, MDS) is a practicing pediatric dentist with a keen interest in new medical researches and updates. She has completed her BDS from North Bengal Dental College ,Darjeeling. Then she went on to secure an ALL INDIA NEET PG rank and completed her MDS from the first dental college in the country – Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital. She is currently attached to The Marwari Relief Society Hospital as a consultant along with private practice of 2 years. She has published scientific papers in national and international journals. Her strong passion of sharing knowledge with the medical fraternity has motivated her to be a part of Medical Dialogues.
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751