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ON the occasion of World Mental Health Day, a study has found that physical exercise is highly beneficial for decreasing mental health symptoms.
With high and growing mental health stats this study could be a positive implementation into treatments. The study was published in February in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
According to the World Health Organization, mental health affects 1 in 8 people all over the world. Mental health costs the world economy an estimated $2.5 trillion a year and that cost is expected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO found that the number of people reporting anxiety rose by 26% and cases of major depressive disorder rose by 28%.
https://mmnews.tv/world-mental-health-day-2023-is-such-condition-still-a-taboo-in-pakistan/
Carlo Celotti MSc, CSCS, owner of All In One Strength and Conditioning in Toronto, Ontario, Canada recalls how members shared the detrimental effects on their mental health from lack of access to the gym.
He said, “We had a surge of new members who all mentioned that their mental health suffered during the pandemic and they wanted to use exercise as a method of improving it.”
Researchers are recommending structured exercise interventions as a key factor in treating mental health conditions. The study included 97 reviews of randomized controlled trials.
These 1,039 trials involved 128,119 participants who increased physical activity over a period of less than 12 weeks. They individuals were then assessed for depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.
Participants ranged from those with mental health conditions, healthy individuals, and individuals with various chronic diseases.
The addition of physical activity had higher positive effects on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress than usual care – across all populations.
The greatest benefits were seen by those with depression, pre and postnatal individuals, healthy individuals, and people diagnosed with HIV, and kidney disease.
All types of physical exercise including walking, pilates, yoga, and resistance training were found to be beneficial.
One type of exercise showed the greatest improvement in mental health symptoms: higher-intensity physical activity.
