Adherence
Higher levels of physical activity significantly reduce the prospective risk of incident depression, with effects persisting across age groups and geographic regions.
To lower your risk of depression, aim for higher levels of physical activity. This doesn't necessarily mean intense gym sessions; regular movement, including walking, cycling, or swimming, has been shown to reduce the risk of developing depression across all age groups. Consistency matters more than intensity for this preventive benefit.
A meta-analysis of 36 prospective comparisons found that higher levels of physical activity significantly reduced the subsequent risk of incident depression over a mean follow-up time of 7.4 years (OR=0.837, 95% CI: 0.794-0.883)... Subgroup analyses found similar results for protective effects of physical activity in studies measuring incidence of depressive symptoms... or major depressive disorder... and in children/adolescents... adults... or older adults.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 36 prospective comparisons with low heterogeneity, though some publication bias was noted.
Source
A meta‐review of “lifestyle psychiatry”: the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders
Joseph Firth et al. · World Psychiatry · 2020
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