ArticlePhysical activity and nutrition2024
The impact of exercise on depression: how moving makes your brain and body feel better.
Article in Physical activity and nutrition, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 67 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
67 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of different exercise modalities on depressive symptom score changes in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of different physical activity interventions on depressive symptoms in menopausal women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Exploring the gut-exercise link: A systematic review of gastrointestinal disorders in physical activity.World journal of gastroenterology · 2025Pooled it
- Cost-effectiveness of physical activity-oriented interventions for improving mental health: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- The impact of high-intensity exercise on patients with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators of physical activity for individuals with depression: a systematic review within the socio-ecological model framework.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of exercise intervention on children and adolescents with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- The impact of home-based telerehabilitation versus center-based cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety, depression, and quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized controlled trial.BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2026Trial
- Life's essential 8 health profiles and risk of incident neuropsychiatric diseases: a nationwide prospective cohort study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- The Dangerous Liaison Between Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review of Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Clinical Management.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Dietary Determinants of Mental Well-Being Among Cardiometabolic High-Risk Adults in Hungary.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Problematic social media use, mental health, and substance use in Czech adolescents: the comparative role of extracurricular activities - findings from the 2022 HBSC study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- How environmental health burdens shape physical activity patterns: age-specific evidence from OECD countries.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Enhancing resilience in pre-clinical health science students in Thailand: the impact of sports activity and social support.Preventive medicine reports · 2026Article
- Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Steroid Hormones and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Male Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- 24-h Movement Guideline Adherence and Mental Health in University Students: Patterns Across Adherence Levels and Academic Fields.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Outdoor Physical Activity and Youth Mental Well-Being: A Narrative Review with Mountain Biking as an Illustrative Case.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Relationship of Emotional Functioning in 9-12-Year-Old Schoolchildren with Key Lifestyles: Sleep Quality and Daily Physical Activity.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Differential impacts of job-relatedWorld journal of psychiatry · 2026Article
- Distribution of social anxiety symptoms and associated factors among undergraduate medical students in Mogadishu, Somalia: a cross-sectional study.BMC medical education · 2026Article
7 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeThis study aimed to comprehensively explore and elucidate the intricate relationship between exercise and depression, and focused on the physiological mechanisms by which exercise influences the brain and body to alleviate depression symptoms. By accumulating the current research findings and neurobiological insights, this study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential of exercise in the management and treatment of depression.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature by selecting relevant studies published up to October 2023. The search included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and review articles. Keywords such as "exercise," "depression," "neurobiology," "endocrinology," and "physiological mechanisms" were used to identify pertinent sources.
resultsInflammation has been linked to depression and exercise has been shown to modulate the immune system. Regular exercise can (1) reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, potentially alleviating depressive symptoms associated with inflammation; (2) help in regulating circadian rhythms that are often disrupted in individuals with depression; and (3) improve sleep patterns, thus regulating mood and energy levels.
conclusionThe mechanisms by which exercise reduces depression levels are multifaceted and include both physiological and psychological factors. Exercise can increase the production of endorphins, which are neurotransmitters associated with a positive mood and feelings of well-being. Exercise improves sleep, reduces stress and anxiety, and enhances self-esteem and social support. The implications of exercise as a treatment for depression are significant because depression is a common and debilitating mental health condition. Exercise is a low-cost, accessible, and effective treatment option that can be implemented in various settings such as primary care, mental health clinics, and community-based programs. Exercise can also be used as an adjunctive treatment along with medication and psychotherapy, which can enhance treatment outcomes.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.