One to two hours of exercise each week nearly halves long term risk of depression, finds study

Exercising for one to two hours every week reduces the risk of developing depression by 44% compared with no regular leisure time physical activity, a large follow-up study has found.1

Several surveys have previously shown a cross sectional association between exercise and lower rates of depression and anxiety. But the possibility of reverse causality, in which low mood could lead to reduced levels of exercise, has limited the interpretation of these findings.

The new study prospectively analysed levels of exercise and rates of newly diagnosed depression and anxiety …