Study finds supervised social exercise can match therapy or medication for some people
A meta-meta-analysis of 81 reviews involving nearly 80,000 people shows aerobic, professionally guided and group exercise reduces depression and anxiety, with largest gains for young adults and new mothers.
- Researchers pooled 81 meta-analyses covering almost 80,000 participants and over 1,000 trials.
- Exercise produced a large reduction in depression symptoms and a medium reduction in anxiety symptoms compared with inactivity.
- For some people the benefits matched or exceeded those of psychotherapy and antidepressants.
- Aerobic activities had the strongest effects, while resistance training and mind-body practices like yoga also helped.
- Supervised, social programs such as gym classes or running clubs produced the greatest improvements for depression.
- Young adults aged 18 to 30 and postpartum women showed the biggest benefits, and clinicians should consider referring patients to structured programs rather than offering only general advice.