Carissa Wong at New Scientist:
Many of us experience a mood-boost after exercise, and now an updated review has revealed just how powerful it can be. Even light exercise, like walking or gardening, may ease the symptoms of depression as effectively as talking therapies or antidepressants.
“It really reiterates that exercise provides an option for people who have depressive symptoms, and confirms that exercise may be as effective as psychotherapy and antidepressants,” says Andrew Clegg at the University of Lancashire in the UK.
Prior studies, including a key review published by the Cochrane Library in 2013, have found that exercise may ease symptoms of depression as effectively as standard therapies, including antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where a therapist helps people change their thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
More here.
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