Too sad to move, say go for a walk? Bullshit. If you’re sad or depressed, it’s the reason why you should go for walk.

Even the most minor exercise can positively impact improvements in depression according to a systematic review and meta-analysis study recently published in JAMA: Psychiatry where researchers published a review of 15 studies of 191,130 subjects and 2,110,588 person-years.

They found that compared to those reporting zero to less than half of the recommended volume of physical activity (an equivalent of 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking), people who reported just half the recommended amount of physical activity had an 18% lower risk of depression. For people who met the recommend the recommended physical activity volume, they experienced a 25% lower risk of being diagnosed with depression. Beyond that, researchers found the payback begins to diminish in this study.

if everyone met the daily recommended volume of physical activity, there would be at least 11.5% cases of depression.

Real men move. If you’re not getting the minimal recommended volume physical activity, you’re living your life wrong. If you’re avoiding physical activity such as driving short distances, just sitting in your car waiting for the closest parking spot to open, not taking the stairs, hiring other people to do the yard work and cleaning you should be doing, you are living your life wrong. Make the time every day to do something good for yourself and that should include regimented exercise to make sure you get that minimal volume of physical activity in because your life will be less depressing for it.

M Pearce et al. Association between physical activity and risk of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA: Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0609