In the U.S. and Western industrialized societies depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness. The influence of depression also extends to its effect on a person’s propensity to physical illness.It has been shown that physical illnesses occur to a greater extent in those depressed compared to those who are not depressed. There is great a need for treatments that minimize risks and side effects. Such a treatment for depression may be physical activity.

In the U.S. and Western industrialized societies depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness. The influence of depression also extends to its effect on a person’s propensity to physical illness.It has been shown that physical illnesses occur to a greater extent in those depressed compared to those who are not depressed. There is great a need for treatments that minimize risks and side effects. Such a treatment for depression may be physical activity.
 

A study just published from work at the University of Bern,Switzerland shows that physical activity causes changes in the brain, its biology and chemistry, that are similar to the effects of antidepressant medications.
The brains absorption of serotonin is enhanced as it may be with antidepressants. And sports and physical activity are shown to reduce the activity of the stress hormone cortisol.
Lead researcher Mirko Wegner says regarding the data from their meta-analysis, “one can see that sport and physical activity alleviate depression…we were also able to determine that the effectiveness of sport is greater with depressive disorders than with anxiety disorders.”
 

The study was just published as “Review of Meta- Analyses and Neurobiological Mechanisms. CNS & Neurological Disorders, 2014.

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