Gardening, golf and walking‘ may lower risk of depression by 23%’
Moderate physical activities such as gardening, golf and walking are associated with a lower risk of depression, according to research.
An umbrella review of several studies has found low to moderate-intensity exercise cuts the risk of depression by 23%, anxiety by 26% and psychosis or schizophrenia by 27%.
The researchers said the findings, published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, add to evidence that physical activity is good for mental health.
But they added that in some cases, high-intensity exercises may “worsen stress-related responses”.
For the study, researchers looked at data from more than four million people which assessed the link between physical activity and episodes of depression.
They also investigated the link between exercise and anxiety involving more than 65,000 people, as well as the association between psychosis and schizophrenia and physical activity for more than 30,000 people.
The researchers said their findings were consistent in both men and women, and across different age groups and across the world.
The team also said evidence was lacking for the association between high-intensity physical activity and reduced risk of depression.
Lead author Lee Smith said: “Moderate exercise can improve mental health through biochemical reactions, whereas highintensity exercise may worsen stress-related responses in some individuals.”