Welcome back to Get Fit Guy. I'm your host, Dr. Jonathan Sue. Every week, I'll share

science-backed tips to help you get fit, stay fit, and optimize performance. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on mental health.

Recent surveys show that nearly a quarter of adults in the United States currently report

symptoms of depression, more than doubling pre-pandemic levels. You've likely seen this with

friends, family, or colleagues. You might have even experienced it

yourself. I've certainly noticed the stress of the pandemic weighing on me and several of my clients.

The good news is that moderate intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to be an effective way for

preventing and relieving depression. Although not the end-all be- shown to be an effective way for preventing and relieving depression.

Although not the end-all be-all to treating depression, and reaching out to a mental health

professional is highly encouraged, 30 to 45 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise

3 to 5 days a week can help significantly. In this episode, we'll look at the

different ways exercise works on your body, mind, and brain to combat depression. I'll also

provide you with simple exercise suggestions to help you start right away. Scientific studies have

consistently shown that exercise has antidepressant effects.

A review that analyzed data from 49 studies found that people with higher levels of physical

activity had a 17% lower odds of depression than people with lower levels of physical activity.

Another review found that low cardiorespiratory fitness,

a sign of physical inactivity,

was associated with a 64% higher risk of depression.

Now I know some of you may not be convinced by these studies

that exercise has antidepressant effects.

It's reasonable to believe that what the results of these studies actually show are that depressed people exercise less.

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