Exercise and Mental Health

The two go hand in hand!

With help from a handful of A-list celebrities and professional athletes (Kevin Love, Luke Combs, etc.), mental health has become less taboo to talk about in the last decade or so.

Thankfully.

However, although dialogue is terrific and more should be encouraged, the statistics aren’t budging. In the adolescent population, the prevalence of mental health issues is actually getting worse.

And at the end of the day, data is the most essential metric.

According to the CDC and other research:

12.5% of those 18+ have frequent feelings of worry and anxiety.

5% of those 18+ have regular feelings of depression.

50+ million physician visits each year end in a mental health diagnosis.

There are over 40,000 suicides each year in the U.S. alone.

~10% of those 3-17 experience anxiety and/or behavioral problems.

It’s likely these statistics are underestimated since many don’t seek treatment and turn to other coping strategies… unfortunately.

Although I’m not a medical professional by any means, this is unacceptable in my opinion.

Medication and behavioral therapy help for some, yet not everyone.

For all those impacted, an adjunct treatment to further assist in this battle should be welcomed.

Enter exercise.

The fitness enthusiasts out there can attest to the pleasurable effects that exercise has on your mood – regardless of the type you engage in.

And yes, exercise does produce immediate mood-boosting aftereffects due to the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters, and endocannabinoids – fancy words for naturally-made compounds in our body that make us feel good.

These instantaneous benefits are great, yet the long-term effects that regular exercise has on our mental health blows those out of the water.

Let’s briefly discuss how this happens.