Exercise and Mental Wellbeing: Is the Link for Real?

You know that being physically active benefits heart and bone health and reduces risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, right?  Have you heard about physical activity’s apparent link to mental wellbeing?

In this video interview, I get the scoop from Lynette Craft, PhD.  She’s Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She specializes in this area of how exercise may play a role in treating and preventing depression.

Exercise programs can reduce symptoms of depression by 67 to 79 percent, according to Dr. Craft’s presentation at a conference sponsored by SCAN (Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition) dietetic practice group, a group of Registered Dietitians of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Dr. Craft discussed research studies showing that exercise appears effective regardless of age, gender or severity of symptoms.  Despite good evidence that physical activity is effective, researchers are not clear which of several possible mechanisms is responsible.  It could involve changes in brain chemistry, development of new brain cells, or psychological effects related to mood regulation and self- efficacy.

What do you do when you feel down, depressed or tense? I find Dr. Craft’s discussion of research comparing the effects of 30 minutes of exercise versus quiet rest particularly interesting. Note that the study she is sharing was done in people diagnosed with major depressive disorder, but I’d like to see if similar studies have been done among healthy people comparing the two choices’ effects on general mental wellbeing and mood.  At the very least, it’s food for thought.

Please send links for this video to people you know who need reminding that the daily effort to be active even for a little while pays off long before they see a change in their weight or waist.

Check back soon for Part 2 of my video interview with Dr. Craft, when she shares what she’s learned from conducting studies with people who are becoming more physically active about what constitutes exercise that is helpful for mental wellbeing.