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A major review finds that exercise can reduce depressive symptoms.

Benefits appear across all levels of severity of depression.

Different types of activity may be helpful, including walking, jogging, yoga, and strength training.

Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. It affects mood, sleep, appetite, concentration, energy, and hope. For some, it is episodic; for others, persistent. Treatment typically includes psychological therapy, medication, or both. Increasingly, clinicians and patients alike are also asking about lifestyle interventions, especially exercise.

The question is no longer whether exercise is “good for you.” The more specific question is whether it meaningfully reduces depressive symptoms, and whether it should be regarded as part of formal treatment rather than general advice.

Recent systematic evidence

A recent large systematic review and meta-analysis, published in the BMJ, examined randomised trials of exercise for people with major depression. Its central conclusion is clear: exercise appears to reduce symptoms of depression across a range of populations.

A variety of exercise types may be beneficial, including walking, jogging, yoga and strength-training. In other words, there is no single “correct” form of movement required to see improvement.

The authors conclude that exercise should be considered alongside established treatments for core management of depression. That phrasing is significant. It moves exercise from the margins of lifestyle advice into the territory of evidence-informed care.

Why exercise might help

There are many reasons why exercise might help with depression.

Biologically, exercise affects neurotransmitter systems implicated in depression. It influences stress hormones and may promote neuroplasticity.

Regular movement is also associated with improved sleep, which is an important factor in mood regulation.

Psychologically, exercise can introduce structure into days that feel empty or overwhelming. It provides achievable goals and measurable progress. Even brief activity can interrupt rumination, which is a common and distressing feature of depression.

There is also a social dimension. Group activities, classes, or even walking in public spaces can reduce isolation. For many people, depression narrows social contact; exercise can gently widen it again.

From evidence to practice

What does this mean in the consulting room?

First, it means clinicians can discuss exercise with greater confidence. Rather than presenting it as a vague suggestion—“try to get out more”—we can frame it as one component of a comprehensive plan.

Second, the emphasis should be on realism. Depression often saps energy and motivation. Advising an ambitious fitness programme to someone struggling to get out of bed is unlikely to succeed. The evidence does not require extreme intensity. It supports engagement.

Small steps are not trivial. A short daily walk, light resistance exercises at home, or attending a beginner’s class once a week may all be reasonable starting points. Success builds momentum.

Third, exercise should not be positioned as a moral test. When people with depression cannot manage physical activity, the response should be understanding. Barriers may include physical illness, disability, unsafe environments, caregiving responsibilities, or simply the weight of the illness itself. Supportive problem-solving is more helpful than exhortation.

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Integration, not competition

The recent review does not suggest that exercise replaces medication or psychotherapy. Rather, it supports its use as an effective option within the broader therapeutic landscape.

For some individuals with mild symptoms, exercise may be a central element of care. For others with more severe illness, it will likely sit alongside antidepressants and structured psychotherapy. Treatment for depression is not one-size-fits-all.

Importantly, presenting exercise as treatment can reduce stigma. It acknowledges that depression involves the body as well as the mind. Movement becomes a therapeutic tool, not a simplistic remedy.

A broader public health perspective

There is also a societal dimension. If physical activity genuinely reduces depressive symptoms, then access to safe spaces for exercise, affordable facilities, and community programmes becomes a public mental health issue.

Advice alone is insufficient if environments do not support change. Urban planning, workplace culture, school curricula, and community investment all shape opportunities for movement. A public mental health approach recognises that individual wellbeing is embedded in social context.

The key message from this review is measured but hopeful: exercise appears to reduce depressive symptoms. It is not a cure-all. It does not eliminate the need for other treatments. But it is more than an optional extra.

For readers living with depression, the invitation is gentle. If possible, consider incorporating some form of regular movement into your week. Start small. Choose something tolerable, even slightly enjoyable. Seek support if needed.

For clinicians, the challenge is to integrate this growing evidence into compassionate, individualised care, while neither overstating nor overlooking its potential.

Depression is complex. So is recovery. But the accumulating evidence suggests that moving the body can help shift the mind.

Noetel M, Sanders T, Gallardo-Gómez D, Taylor P, Del Pozo Cruz B, van den Hoek D, Smith JJ, Mahoney J, Spathis J, Moresi M, Pagano R, Pagano L, Vasconcellos R, Arnott H, Varley B, Parker P, Biddle S, Lonsdale C. Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2024; 384: e075847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847

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