Is exercise equivalent to medication for treating depression and anxiety?

A recent study in the Journal for Affective Disorders has generated a lot of buzz by claiming that a running program had a comparable effect on mental health outcomes to that of medications. Though there clearly is a benefit to exercise in treating the symptoms of depression (and anxiety), this conclusion is misleading based on the findings of this study. We should not consider running to be equivalent to medication.

This study is flawed, but there is some truth in their findings. This issue has been studied repeatedly and the evidence supports exercise as a treatment for depression. What is also clear is that people with depression or anxiety are known to be at increased risk of becoming sedentary. This increases their likelihood of developing metabolic problems that can worsen their depression and anxiety. Therefore, exercise contributes to physical health in addition to mental health.

At Rise, we have patients who require treatment with antidepressants and also patients who have very successfully treated their anxiety and depression with exercise. This brings us to the question, who can be treated with exercise and other lifestyle changes, and who needs to be treated with medications? The key to answering this question may just come down to how severe the symptoms are.

What we DO know is that running is not the only exercise that reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Running, cycling, walking, lifting, gardening, and many other forms of physical activity can definitely improve people’s symptoms. Other “natural” interventions have also been shown by medical research to help patients feel better. Increased exposure to sunlight can alleviate the symptoms of depression in some people and can improve cognitive function as well in those patients. Eating a whole foods diet and avoiding processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, fat, and artificial ingredients has a benefit in reducing these symptoms. Other studies have found that socializing and getting good quality sleep both alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms, too. Limiting time on our phones and other screens is also a good tactic for maintaining optimal mental health.

So, what is the take home here for people trying to decide how to treat their depression or anxiety? If you have suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self harm, you need to dial 988 for the suicide hotline right away. If you are severely depressed or anxious, it would be very challenging for you to start implementing an exercise and lifestyle program on your own that would effectively treat your symptoms. Medications will probably play a key role in your treatment, especially at first. If your symptoms fall in the mild or moderate categories, though, an exercise program, a healthy diet, plenty of sunlight, good sleep, and social interactions with others are very likely to improve your symptoms. Even for those on medications, making healthy lifestyle changes while feeling better can improve how you feel overall, improve your long term health, and reduce the chances of your symptoms worsening or coming back.