Depression and Physical Activity – The Effects of Movement on Mental Health
Tim Klein
2026-03-19
3 min. read
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Physical exercise results in positive outcomes not only in terms of physical condition but also mental. For this reason, individuals diagnosed with depression are advised to remain physically active. How does this impact their well-being and can it be a significant aspect of prevention? Answers to these questions can be found in this article.
Depression by the Numbers – Key Epidemiological Data and Trends from the 2023 NHF Report
In 2023, the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ) released an updated statistical report revealing that throughout the year, a total of 809,000 patients received medical services with a primary or secondary diagnosis of depressive disorder. The analysis highlighted that the overwhelming majority of these cases involved individuals aged between 65 and 74. Furthermore, the NFZ findings indicate that antidepressant medications were dispensed to 1.7 million patients—a figure representing an 83 percent increase compared to 2013. Estimates suggest that approximately 1.2 million Poles were affected by depression during this period. Research conducted by the *Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation* confirms that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated the prevalence of depressive illnesses: in 2020 alone, over 53 million additional cases of major depressive disorder and 76 million anxiety-related cases were documented globally, with women comprising the majority of those affected. Additionally, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low mood were disproportionately prevalent among younger adults (see M. Yocha, R. Sirulla, 2021).
The Impact of Regular Jogging on the Reduction of Depressive Symptoms: Scientific Analysis and Practical Guidelines
One of the most accessible yet highly effective methods for improving mental well-being is the systematic engagement in physical activity through jogging. Notably, initiating this form of exercise does not require complex equipment—all that is necessary are properly fitted athletic shoes, intrinsic motivation, and consistency in practice. Scientific research confirms that even moderate distances yield measurable health benefits, including significant improvements in cognitive function and mood regulation. Furthermore, findings from a 2023 meta-analysis conducted by a research team led by M. Noetel demonstrate that jogging was the only form of physical activity whose efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms was documented across all examined sociodemographic groups, irrespective of gender, age, or baseline physical fitness level.
Resistance exercise as a therapeutic adjunct: mechanisms and benefits for mental and physical health
While both running and resistance training demonstrate comparable efficacy in enhancing mood, running appears to be particularly effective in alleviating specific distressing symptoms, such as anxiety. A study involving 28 hemodialysis patients compared the effects of six months of running versus resistance exercise, revealing that participants engaged in running experienced a pronounced reduction in anxiety levels (Dziubek et al., 2016). Depression represents a debilitating condition with systemic repercussions, as evidenced by the observation that individuals with mental illnesses exhibit a life expectancy approximately a decade shorter than that of the general population. This discrepancy may stem from an elevated susceptibility to cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and insulin resistance (Schuch & Stubbs, 2019). Physical activity constitutes a cornerstone of depressive disorder management, contributing to improvements in cardiovascular markers, body weight regulation, and high-density lipoprotein concentrations (Kerling et al., 2015; Kahl et al., 2015; Stubbs et al., 2016). Additionally, exercise promotes neuroplasticity and neurogenesis—the formation of new neural cells—while exerting anti-inflammatory effects, enhancing sleep quality, bolstering self-esteem, and increasing self-confidence (Xie et al., 2021). Regular physical engagement also exerts beneficial effects on cognitive function, which is frequently impaired in depressed individuals. Research indicates that structured exercise interventions in patients with unipolar depression lead to reduced reaction times, improved verbal short-term memory, enhanced executive functioning, and accelerated psychomotor speed (Buscher et al., 2019; Dauwan et al., 2021).
Could Physical Exercise Replace Pharmacotherapy for Depression? A Comparative Analysis of Duke University’s Research Findings
A team of researchers from the prestigious Duke University conducted a rigorous clinical trial designed to compare the efficacy of two therapeutic approaches in managing depressive episodes: systematic pharmacotherapy using sertraline (marketed as Zoloft) and a structured program of moderate-intensity physical exercise. The study’s findings revealed a striking convergence in the effectiveness of both interventions—within the cohort engaged in regular physical activity, 45% of participants achieved complete remission of depressive symptoms, whereas in the group receiving antidepressant medication, an analogous outcome was observed in 47% of subjects. This discovery introduces novel perspectives into the ongoing discourse regarding optimal treatment modalities for mood disorders.
