Even Small Amounts Of Physical Activity Can Lower Depression Risk

Even Small Amounts Of Physical Activity

Can Lower Depression Risk

Researched evaluated the results of 15 studies that included 190,000 participants. The results showed that participants who reached half the recommended amount of physical activity had 18% decreased risk of depression compared with those reporting little or no physical activity. After that, the dose-response tapered, with a 25% reduction in risk for participants who reached the full recommended 8.8 mMET hours.

Overall, the authors assert, if less-active adults in the studies had met current physical activity recommendations, one in nine cases of depression could have been prevented.

This study appeared in JAMA Psychiatry