Physical activity is the act of working muscles and requires energy. Physical activity is an umbrella term that can apply to exercise, work, household chores, or leisure activities.
Exercise is a structured, planned, and repetitive body movement performed to improve or maintain physical fitness. Examples of exercise include running, lifting weights, yoga, or playing basketball. Exercise helps improve and prevent hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and other health problems. The link between exercise and mental health is not entirely clear; however, exercise and physical activity have been shown to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exercising may also keep depression and anxiety away once you are feeling better.
Exercising may improve symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins in the brain that improve well-being. Engaging in exercise can provide advantages that boost mental health training the mind to cope with stress and breaking the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression and anxiety. Meeting exercise goals can also boost self-confidence and some forms of exercise promote social interaction. Finally, exercise helps release neurotrophic (growth) factors that support nerve cell growth in the brain and that improve neuron connections. Specifically, scientists have noted that individuals who suffer from depression have smaller hippocampi, but exercise supports neuron growth and connection in the hippocampus leading to improvement in brain function. These improvements happen when exercise occurs regularly over time.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise, 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise, or a combination of these two intensity exercises for disease prevention. It is possible that as little as 10-15 minutes of physical activity such as walking can make a difference in mood. Performing 30 minutes or more of exercise daily for three to five days per week can significantly improve anxiety and depression symptoms. No type of exercise is more effective than the next type at improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. The mental health benefits of exercise and physical activity only last if physical activity is part of a person’s lifestyle for a long time. For these reasons, it is important to find and incorporate physical activities and exercises that one enjoys; exercising makes combatting depression and anxiety easier.
Garber, C. E., Blissmer, B. P., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I.-M. M., . . . Swain, D. P. (2011, July). Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults: Guidance for Prescribing Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(7), 1334-1359. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb
Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School. (2021, February 2). Exercise is an all-natural treatment to fight depression. Retrieved from Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017, September 27). Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
