In recent years, studies have shown that regular physical activity also has benefits formental health. Exercise can help people recover from depression and prevent them from becoming depressed in the first place.
Dr Alan Cohen, a GP with a special interest in mental health, says that when people get depressed or anxious, they often feel they're not in control of their lives.
“Exercise gives them back control of their bodies and this is often the first step to feeling in control of other events,” he says.
Who can benefit and what type of exercise is best?Anyone with depression can benefit from doing regular exercise, but it's especially useful for people with mild depression.
“Any type of exercise is useful as long as it suits you and you do enough of it,” says Dr Cohen. “Exercise should be something you enjoy. Otherwise it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly.”
How often?To stay healthy, adults should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week. Find out more about:
If you haven’t exercised for a while, gradually introduce physical activity into your daily routine.
Even a 15-minute walk can help you clear your mind and relax. Any exercise is better than none.
How to get startedTake part in a team sport, attend classes at a sports centre or just be more active in your daily routine by walking or cycling instead of travelling by car.
Find an activity you can do regularly. For more ideas on different types of exercise and the benefits of being more active, see ourfitness section.
To find exercise classes and sports clubs in your area, search the sport and fitness services directory.
Fehmida Donnelly is the coach for "Fitness Club" and it is FREE, come and have a chat with Fehmida about nutrition. This is a perfect place to start and get back into exercise.
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