Benefits of Exercise
Exercise linked to improved mental health, but more may not always be better
Published August 8, 2018 in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal.
A study of 1.2 million people in the USA has found that people who exercise report having 1.5 fewer days of poor mental health a month, compared to people who do not exercise. The study found that team sports, cycling, aerobics and going to the gym are associated with the biggest reductions, according to the largest observational study of its kind published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.
Exercising for 30-60 minutes was associated with the biggest reduction in poor mental health days (associated with around 2.1 fewer days of poor mental health compared with people who did not exercise). Small reductions were still seen for people who exercised more than 90 minutes a day, but exercising for more than three hours a day was associated with worse mental health than not exercising at all.
The authors note that people doing extreme amounts of exercise might have obsessive characteristics which could place them at greater risk of poor mental health. "Previously, people have believed that the more exercise you do, the better your mental health, but our study suggests that this is not the case. Doing exercise more than 23 times a month, or exercising for longer than 90 minute sessions is associated with worse mental health," continues Dr Chekroud.
This could lead to mania and obsessive behavior in exercising too much.
Read more here:
exercise_linked_to_improved_mental_health_but_more_may_not_always_be_better_--_sciencedaily.pdf
Published August 8, 2018 in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal.
A study of 1.2 million people in the USA has found that people who exercise report having 1.5 fewer days of poor mental health a month, compared to people who do not exercise. The study found that team sports, cycling, aerobics and going to the gym are associated with the biggest reductions, according to the largest observational study of its kind published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.
Exercising for 30-60 minutes was associated with the biggest reduction in poor mental health days (associated with around 2.1 fewer days of poor mental health compared with people who did not exercise). Small reductions were still seen for people who exercised more than 90 minutes a day, but exercising for more than three hours a day was associated with worse mental health than not exercising at all.
The authors note that people doing extreme amounts of exercise might have obsessive characteristics which could place them at greater risk of poor mental health. "Previously, people have believed that the more exercise you do, the better your mental health, but our study suggests that this is not the case. Doing exercise more than 23 times a month, or exercising for longer than 90 minute sessions is associated with worse mental health," continues Dr Chekroud.
This could lead to mania and obsessive behavior in exercising too much.
Read more here:
exercise_linked_to_improved_mental_health_but_more_may_not_always_be_better_--_sciencedaily.pdf
Additional Articles
A brief review of exercise, bipolar disorder, and mechanistic pathways
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4349127/
How Exercise Can Help With BiPolar Disorder
www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/exercise
Best Types of Exercise for Mental Health
genesight.com/the-best-types-of-exercise-for-mental-health/
The Mental Health Benefits of ExerciseThe Exercise Prescription for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm/
A brief review of exercise, bipolar disorder, and mechanistic pathways
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4349127/
How Exercise Can Help With BiPolar Disorder
www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/exercise
Best Types of Exercise for Mental Health
genesight.com/the-best-types-of-exercise-for-mental-health/
The Mental Health Benefits of ExerciseThe Exercise Prescription for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm/
