Mental Health V Physical Health

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health condition in Australia and are cited as the leading cause of disability worldwide (Choi et al. 2018). Increasing evidence suggests that physical activity is associated with reducing the risks of depression and anxiety and can act as a potential way to protect against these debilitating conditions and improving population health.

For years, research has demonstrated an association between increased physical activity and a reduced risk of depression. A 2015 meta-analysis based on 306 studies with 10,755 participants indicated that physical activity reduces anxiety and improves mood (Rebar et al. 2015; Sustrans 2010). The recent 2018 research study from Massachusetts General Hospital using the genetic data of 300,000 adults found people with higher levels of physical activity had lower levels of major depressive disorder. Evidence shows that while Australians recog

nise anxiety and depression as real medical illness and not a weakness or something you can ‘snap out of’, the stigma of mental health remains the biggest barrier to people getting support when they need it. Physical activity interventions for people with depression are now a viable alternative. Making it a reality is the challenge for health professionals and the fitness industry.

The relationship between physical activity and depression has yet to be fully understood and explained by scientists. Physical Activity is defined as musculo-skeletal movement resulting in energy expenditure. When people start to incorporate physical activity into their lives day-by- day their symptoms improve. This positive effect cannot be explained by one single mechanism acting alone but rather due to several mechanisms within the body working at once. The physiological effect exercise has on the nervous system affects the hormone responses ultimately impacting mood, feelings of self control, feelings of mastery and self-efficacy. In fact, the research shows that in replacing complete sedentary behavior with 15 minutes of vigorous activity each day can reduce depressive symptoms by roughly 26 per cent (Choi 2018).

Anxiety and depression can make it hard to feel motivated to get physically active however, once the practice of regular physical activity starts it is no more difficult for people experiencing mental health symptoms than those that don’t, to make it a regular part of their day (Amireault et al. 2013). This means we all struggle at times to get physically active, with lack of time being cited as the main barrier but there are many other common barriers preventing people getting physical active. For this reason the researchers are attempting to determine how much physical activity is required to benefit different at-risk groups, such as people who are genetically vulnerable to depression or those going through stressful situations. These findings could ultimately inform new public health schemes. Doctors, health professionals and exercise therapists and physiologists could start to prescribe physical activity and exercise that is manageable, specific and relative to not only reduce the risk of physical health issues, but also to combat the mental health epidemic.

We all need to be physically active for health. Knowing about the reciprocal nature of physical activity and mental health may just be the motivation we needed to maintain regular physical activity.

Image by Rose Campbell Co.

Choi et al. 2018. Assessment of Bidirectional Relationships Between Physical Activity and Depression Among Adults