This is how much exercise is linked to improved mental health, according to a new major study

But there could also be such a thing as too much
Photo by Becca Matimba on Unsplash

Everyone knows that exercising regularly is good for your physical health, but scientists are increasingly exploring its link with mental health.

A major study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal has concluded that exercising regularly is linked to better mental health – and that'll come as no surprise to a lot of people.

A cross-sectional study that analysed data from 1.2 million adults in the US found that respondents who exercised reported 1.5 fewer days of poor mental health per month than those who did not.

The research found that exercising for 45 minutes between three to five times a week has the best impact on mental health, but also found that exercising for more than 90 minutes each day could actually have a negative impact.

Photo by Becca Matimba on Unsplash

The study looked at the type of exercise people were doing too. While all forms of physical activity were associated with improved mental health, they found that team sports, cycling, and aerobic and gym exercise had the strongest associations with improving mental health.

Frequency and duration of exercise was also important. For example, those who worked out between three and five times a week had better mental health than people who exercised less or more each week.

Overall exercising for 30-60 minutes was linked to the biggest reduction in poor mental health days. People who worked out for more than 90 minutes also saw a small reduction, but exercising for more than three hours a day could have a worse impact on mental health than those who did none at all.

They noted that those doing extreme amounts of exercise might have "obsessive characteristics" who could be at a higher risk of poor mental health.

"Previously, people have believed that the more exercise you do, the better your mental health, but our study suggests that this is not the case. Doing exercise more than 23 times a month, or exercising for longer than 90 minute sessions is associated with worse mental health," study author Dr Adam Chekroud said.

"Our finding that team sports are associated with the lowest mental health burden may indicate that social activities promote resilience and reduce depression by reducing social withdrawal and isolation, giving social sports an edge over other kinds."

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