Neue Forschungsergebnisse bestätigen, dass körperliche Aktivität für manche Menschen genauso wirksam sein kann wie eine Therapie oder Medikamente. Dies gilt insbesondere dann, wenn es gesellig ist und von einem Fachmann geleitet wird, beispielsweise in einem Sportkurs oder einem Laufverein.
https://theconversation.com/exercise-can-be-as-effective-as-medication-for-depression-and-anxiety-new-study-272243
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What we did
Our research aimed to resolve this confusion by conducting a “meta-meta-analysis”. This means we systematically reviewed the results of all the existing meta-analyses – there were 81 – to determine what the evidence really shows.
Together, this meant data from nearly 80,000 participants across more than 1,000 original trials.
We examined multiple factors that might explain why their results varied. These included differences in:
who they studied (for example, people with diagnosed depression or anxiety versus those just experiencing symptoms, different age groups, and women during pregnancy and after birth)
what the exercise involved (for example, comparing aerobic fitness to resistance training and mind-body exercises, such as yoga; whether it was supervised by a professional; intensity and duration)
whether the exercise was individual or in a group.
We also used advanced statistical techniques to accurately isolate and estimate the exact impact of exercise, separate from confounding factors (including other chronic diseases).
Our data looked at the impact of exercise alone on depression and anxiety. But sometimes people will also use antidepressants and/or therapy – so further research would be needed to explore the effect of these when combined.
What did the study find?
Exercise is effective at reducing both depression and anxiety. But there is some nuance.
We found exercising had a high impact on depression symptoms, and a medium impact on anxiety, compared to staying inactive.
The benefits were comparable to, and in some cases better than, more widely prescribed mental health treatments, including therapy and antidepressants.
Importantly, we discovered who exercise helped most. Two groups showed the most improvement: adults aged 18 to 30 and women who had recently given birth.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/02/bjsports-2025-110301
That a dangerous slope when there’s a claim that something can replace therapy or medication. No matter for how long it’s done consistently. Jogging doesn’t negate going to therapy or replace medication.
Healthy active people die all the time.