Currently, over 330 million people worldwide suffer from depression, although this number can only ever be a conservative estimate due to the condition’s heterogeneity and the difficulty of diagnosing it. A person’s emotional well-being, social relationships, functional ability, and physical health are all impacted by depressive disorders, which are a leading cause of disability. Thankfully, there are strategies we can use to stop them from spreading, and exercise is one of them. Healthy lifestyle must include physical activity, yet 31% of adults and 81% of adolescents worldwide do not meet the recommended levels.
Physical activity levels are becoming progressively lower in two thirds of the world’s regions. This resulted in 16 million disability-adjusted life years and 830,000 deaths globally in 2019. Since 1990, these numbers have risen by about 84%. By both biological and psychosocial means, an active lifestyle can help prevent depression. However, the overall rise in inadequate levels of physical activity over the past few decades outweighs any potential advantages. Depressive symptoms can also be influenced by physical activity, including intensity, as well as other factors like age, environment, and personal risk for mental illnesses.
