Depression and anxiety: Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming and dance-based workouts may be one of the most effective non-drug options for easing mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety, with the biggest gains seen when people exercise in groups or under supervision, according to a new evidence synthesis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Researchers reviewed findings from 63 meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials, covering nearly 80,000 participants, to compare how different types of exercise affect depression and anxiety across age groups and life stages, including pregnancy and the postnatal period.
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Across the evidence, heart-rate-raising aerobic activity produced the greatest improvements for depression, while resistance training and mind–body approaches such as yoga also helped but tended to show smaller effects. For anxiety, exercise benefits were also seen, though the overall impact was more modest.
The analysis suggested that supervised or group-based programmes were associated with stronger reductions in depressive symptoms, indicating that structure and social connection may add to the benefits of movement. For anxiety symptoms, shorter programmes, often lower intensity and lasting up to around eight weeks, appeared to be particularly useful.
Some of the largest improvements were reported among young adults and new mothers, groups that are widely recognised as vulnerable to mental health difficulties.
Clinicians urged caution in how the findings are interpreted. While exercise can be a reasonable frontline option for mild symptoms, experts emphasised there is no basis to stop or replace established treatments such as psychological therapy or medication, especially for people with more severe depression, who may need support before they can take on structured exercise.
Depression and anxiety remain among the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of people, according to the World Health Organization.
