A new study revealed that people who engage in team sports, cycling, aerobics or going to the gym daily have better mental health than those who do not exercise, according to the Times of India.
According to the study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, Playing sports For 45 minutes three to five times a week was linked to the greatest health benefits. The World Health Organization states that depression affects 5% of the world’s adult population and is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Common symptoms of depression are: sadness, irritability, lack of interest in activities, poor concentration, excessive feelings of guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, restless sleep, changes in appetite or weight, feeling particularly tired or low in energy, mood changes.
The study included all types of physical activity, from childcare, housework, lawn mowing and fishing to cycling, going to the gym, running and skiing.
“Exercise is associated with a lower mental health burden for people regardless of age, family income and education level,” said Dr. Adam Shrod, associate professor of psychiatry at Yale University.
For the research, the authors used data from 1.2 million adults across the United States in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Participants were asked to rate their mental health in the past 30 days and how often they immersed themselves in exercise for the same duration.
On average, participants experienced 3.4 days of poor mental health each month.
Compared with people who reported no exercise, those who exercised reported poorer mental health an average of 1.5 days each month — a 43.2% decrease (2.0 days for people who exercised versus 3.4 days for people who didn’t). “.
For the study, researchers used 75 different types of exercise and found the strongest mental health link to team sports, cycling and aerobics.
Even completing household chores was associated with improvement (reducing days of poor mental health by regarding 10%, or regarding half a day less each month),” the researchers added.
