Research Already one hour of exercise a week prevents depression

The positive effects of sports on depression

Physical activity can protect against the onset of depression. For the first time, a large-scale study has shown that the positive effects of physical exercise on the prevention of depression - regardless of age and background - can be identified. You do not even have to become a sports fanatic. Exercising for one hour per week reduces the risk of depression.

Researchers from Brazil, Belgium, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden formed the international study team. Data from 49 individual cohort studies were evaluated. All studies addressed the issue of whether physical activity in people without pre-existing mental illness leads to a reduced risk of developing depression. Overall, the data of more than 250,000 people were analyzed. The results were recently published in the journal "The American Journal of Psychiatry".

Sport is healthy, that is common knowledge. A large study has now shown that one hour of exercise per week can prevent depression. (Image: contrastwerkstatt / fotolia.com)

The effect is independent of age and origin

The analysis of the data showed that participants with little exercise had a greater risk of depression than participants with higher physical activity. In addition, the research team has demonstrated that this protective effect occurs to the same extent in adolescents, adults and the elderly. The origin of the respondents also had no influence on the protective function. The subjects came from Europe, North America and Oceania.

Comparison to other studies

In a recent study by the Black Dog Institute in Australia and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, scientists found that 12 percent of depression could be prevented by just one hour of exercise per week. The institute now motivates Australians to do more for their mental health through physical exercise with the "Exercise Your Mood" campaign.

The clear results should be included in guidelines

"The most important thing now is to ensure that these overwhelming results lead to appropriate policies," said co-author of the study. Simon Rosenbaum in a press release on the study results. The expert says the findings could improve facilities that help people with impending depression. There you should motivate people to participate in programs to increase physical activity.

Using sports to protect the population from depression

"This is the first global meta-analysis that proves that mere physical activity is conducive to protecting the entire population from depression," says lead author of the study. Felipe Barreto Chess from the Universidad La Salle from Brazil. The analysis of over a quarter of a million people has clearly shown that people who maintain an active lifestyle are less likely to develop depression, adds co-author Dr. Brendon Stubbs added.

The protective function is also independent of other vices

In addition, the study showed that a high level of physical activity leads to a protective function against depression, independent of other factors such as smoking, obesity and overall physical health.

Higher priority for physical activity

"In addition to the many other benefits that physical activity brings, our findings can help re-position physical activity as one of life's priorities," said Stubbs.

More exercise at school, at work and at leisure

"The convincing evidence we found here provides the key arguments for getting people to move more at school, at work and in their spare time," Dr. Joseph Firth of Western Sydney University. Further studies are already planned to determine the minimum level of physical activity and the effect of different types of physical activity. This should permanently reduce the risk of depression, the expert said. (Vb)