Can Exercise Treat Depression? What the Research Says

Can Exercise Treat Depression? What the Research Says One question that many experts are asking is, “Can exercise treat depression?” You probably already know how common depression is, but what you might not know is the shockingly large number of people who suffer from it. Around the world, 280 million people deal with depression. In the U.S. alone, 21 million people have at least one major depressive episode each year. This is a mental health crisis that needs to be addressed as untreated depression can have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, an overreliance on potentially harmful medications has become all too common. As a result, the search for safer, more effective alternatives has led to the exploration of exercise as a promising treatment for depression. Understanding Depression Depression is a complex mental health disorder , to say the least. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activ...