Inactivity Can Be Depressing
Inactivity can lead to a bout of depression.
Research has shown that inactivity and depression are strongly linked, with the numbers of inactive adults who developed or worsened depressive symptoms being around three times higher than in those who were active. One study has shown that inactive men were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with a mental illness as those who are active, while the same study found that among women, this number was four times as high.
In addition, studies have shown that when people become clinically depressed they usually try to avoid any physical activities which encourages the development of an unhealthy lifestyle which often leads to weight gain or obesity. It is also known that people with depression are more likely to experience heart problems, stroke and digestive disorders. This is why the NHS now recommends people who feel chronically depressed to try some physical activity as a way of combating these potential health problems.
A recent study found that outpatients at a Swedish psychiatric clinic were asked to fill in a questionnaire which included questions to assess their level of activity. Over three-quarters (76%) of those who developed depression within 14 days reported no physical activity during that time, while only one in seven (14%) listed physical activity as part of their routine. In addition, the response rate for physically active outpatients compared to non-active ones in this study was also higher among people who had developed depression. This suggests that regular physical activity can be a way of limiting the negative effects of depression, which include increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar and disturbed blood flow through the arteries. The recommended level of physical activity by the NHS is 30 minutes or more, five times a week.
Some studies have shown that there are major differences in how inactive people respond to stressful situations. In one study it was found that 24 hours after watching 12 different films depicting different emotional experiences people who had not been physically active showed increases in their heart rate and blood pressure compared to those who were active. In this study, however, the blood pressure of those who were active did not significantly differ from those who were inactive.
However, a review of studies into the effects of exercise on depression found that although regular exercise is likely to have some positive effect on an individual's physical health it has little effect on the development of clinical depression. This suggests that more research is needed in this area. It should be noted that there are some exceptions to this rule - one review found that when people were depressed they lost weight and showed improvements in their overall health if they exercised regularly.
This article was updated on December 12th 2013
The benefits of physical activity are clearly great for health and well being.
The NHS Choices website provides some useful information on physical activity and depression, including a tool which calculates the number of METS (the standard measure for energy expenditure) of activity you should be aiming for.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Physicalactivity/#depression
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/depression_and_exercise1
http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs. uk/pages/depression-screening-test
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Physicalactivity/#depression
http://www.healthdeficitawareness.org/depression-and-physical-activity
https://web.archive.org/web/20111211194931/http://www.insightpulse.co.uk/insight/special-reports-healthcare/depression-and-physical-activity
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856886/
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211193508/http://www.healthdeficitawareness.org/depression-and-physical-activity
http://www.livescience.com/46710-depression-exercise.html
http://www.alzheimersassociationukblog805579671.weebly.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211193508/http://www.healthdeficitawareness.org/depression-and-physical-activity
http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs. uk/pages/depression-screening-test
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/17/health-depression-exercise
https://web.archive.org/web/20131211193508 /http://www.healthdeficitawareness.org /depression -and -physical -activity
https :// web . archive . org / web / 201312 11 193 50 8 / http: // www . healthdeficitawareness . org / depression -and -physical -activity
http://www.ncbi . nlm . nih . gov/pmc / articles/PMC2857284/
https://web.archive.org/web/201312 11 193 508 /http:/www.healthdeficitawareness.org /depression-and -physical-activity
http://www.healthdeficitawareness.org /depression-and-physical-activity
http://www.healthykidsmediausa . com/article_overview_mental_health_factors_livelihoods_and _stereotypes_15191 . html
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/depression -and-physical-activity#1
http://www.odd-fellow.dk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09 /depression_and_exercise11.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/201312 11 193 508 /http://www.healthdeficitawareness . org /depression -and -physical -activity
http://www . healthdeficitawareness . org / depression -and- physical -activity
http://www . healthline . com / health - slideshow / depression - and- physical - activity#1
https :// web . archive . org / web / 201 5 1 1 0 0 4 6 / h ttp : // www . l i v e s c i e n c e . com/ 4 67 10-depression-exercise. html
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/depression -and-physical -activity#1
http: //ww w.healthdeficitawareness . org/ depression -and -physical -activity }
http:// www . healthdeficitawareness . org / depression-and-physical-activity http:// www . healthline .
Conclusion Increasing physical activity levels from being inactive to active has positive effects on people's health and well being. Exercise has been found to benefit several different mental health conditions. There are some, however, that have shown no consistent link between physical activity and depression.
Notes
1. See "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans" (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) http://www . usda . gov / spb/nceh / library / healthy_lifestyle/physical_activit y/PAGuideline2010 . pdf
2. Exercise is defined as any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles used in determining energy needs and is distinct from voluntary actions such as walking or resting..