The case for treating depression with a sweat session

Turns out gym bros may have been underselling the value of their 12-step workout routines.

Regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression as effectively as talk therapy, and may also offer similar benefits to antidepressant medications, according to a new Cochrane review of recent healthcare and health policy research.

Hot girl walks, ftw

The review analyzed 73 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 5,000 adults living with depression. Across those studies, exercise was compared with no treatment, psychological therapy, and antidepressant drugs.

• Compared to doing nothing, exercise consistently led to moderate improvements in depression symptoms.
• When compared with psychological therapy, exercise delivered similar benefits, backed by moderate-certainty evidence.
• Compared with antidepressants, exercise again showed comparable effects, though researchers caution the evidence here is less robust.

Light to moderate activity appeared more beneficial than intense workouts. Additionally, the biggest improvements were linked to completing roughly 13–36 exercise sessions, suggesting consistency matters more than intensity.

Why it’s a big deal: Depression affects 300+ million people worldwide, with rates rising sharply over recent decades. And while experts say exercise isn’t a replacement for clinical care, it likely represents an underused part of treatment.