Exercising regularly cuts risk of depression by 16%, study suggests

People who exercise regularly are 16% less likely to develop depression, according to a major international study.

Those who engage in 150 minutes of activity a week recommended by the Government can enjoy even greater benefits, with their risk of depression falling by 22% to 31%.

The research led by King's College London included more than 200,000 people and found the same outcome across all ages and geographical regions.

Co-author Dr Brendon Stubbs said: "We found consistently that people who engage in high levels of physical activity were 15% to 16% less likely to develop depression in the future compared with the least active people. We found this in children, working age adults, and older adults as well.

"Even when you adjust for other important lifestyle factors - such as how much people smoke or their body mass index - the protective effects of physical activity on depression remained evident."

While the physical advantages of exercise are well-documented, Dr Stubbs said this is the largest study of its kind to establish a link to mental health and should add to pressing calls to prioritise physical activity in people's lives.

"It doesn't have to be structured exercise." he said. "Physical activity of any type is beneficial for health and well-being. So for young people it might be playing in the playground, or older people it might be gardening. Some is better than none, more is better than some."

Chevy Rough, 37, credits running with saving his life. He now works as a fitness and mindfulness coach but spent 15 years in the City of London, unhappy and using drink and drugs to tackle his anxieties.

He said: "At the age of 30, I started walking - I needed to move in a new direction and walking gave me an opportunity to find myself, and that evolved into running.

"The reason I ran so hard and so fast - I would run from meeting to meeting, and kept myself so busy - if I stopped moving, I would have a conversation with suicide.

"That's a very hard and real conversation to have with myself. I feel absolutely blessed I found a pair of trainers and put them on. Exercise for me is staying away from the dark clouds."

Psychotherapist and author William Pullen has been incorporating movement into his work for years. He says the link between physical activity and mental health is no surprise.

"In therapy, people present depression as being stuck - in going outside I get them moving and talking. If you've ever been on a road trip - you get a feeling of togetherness, of sharing, and that's what happens.

"When we're travelling together, you feel like sharing, that loosens it all up and there's a greater sense of accomplishment, a sense of achievement."

Researchers say the challenge ahead is to ensure that their evidence is translated into meaningful policy change whereby more people get the opportunity to include exercise in their daily life.