Abstract
It is widely recognized that physical activity and exercise provide several health benefits. In line with this, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all adults and older adults engage in regular physical activity. The benefits of physical activity and exercise are not limited to physical health, playing a crucial role in supporting mental health and well-being, particularly in managing depression. Physical activity and exercise can enhance mood, reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost self-esteem. Additionally, staying active fosters a sense of accomplishment and routine, which can help break the cycle of depressive symptoms and promote overall well-being.
Recognizing the mental health benefits of exercise, the European Physical Activity Guidelines to Tackle Depressive Symptoms (EUPAG-DS) consortium provides evidence-based recommendations for exercise as a treatment option for depression among adults and older adults. The recommendations further specify the amount of exercise (frequency, intensity and duration) required to improve depression severity significantly.
The recommendations are designed for people with depression seeking to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their lives; exercise physiologists, physical activity and exercise psychologists and other professionals specializing in physical activity and exercise working with people with depression; healthcare providers – including medical doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists – who support people with depression through advice and guidance; and policymakers and government officials responsible for formulating laws, defining strategies, and developing national, regional, or local plans to promote mental health, as well as overseeing healthcare and community-based intervention programs.
The guidelines were prepared following the WHO handbook for guideline development. An umbrella review of the evidence was conducted, assessing the critical and important outcomes, and recommendations were developed after considering the benefits and harms, values and preferences, feasibility and acceptability, and resource implications of various exercise comparisons and modalities.
The final recommendations presented in this document are for adults and older adults with depression. The development of these guidelines provides a set of evidence-based recommendations that individuals, professionals and organizations can adopt to tackle depression and promote physical activity and exercise.
The recommendations are based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, but gaps remain, particularly regarding the effectiveness of exercise long term, psychiatric and physical comorbidities, which require cautious, individualised consideration. Addressing these gaps will refine exercise guidelines, enhance confidence in findings, and ensure accessible, effective treatments for diverse populations worldwide.
The potential benefits of exercise in alleviating depressive symptoms highlight the importance of these guidelines. Given the burden of depression and the limitations of existing treatment options, exercise represents a promising, low-risk intervention with broad applicability. These guidelines provide clear, evidence-informed recommendations to support patients, healthcare providers, and exercise professionals in incorporating exercise as a complementary treatment strategy. Emphasizing the clinical relevance of this approach is essential to promote its adoption and integration into mental health care practices.
Recognizing the mental health benefits of exercise, the European Physical Activity Guidelines to Tackle Depressive Symptoms (EUPAG-DS) consortium provides evidence-based recommendations for exercise as a treatment option for depression among adults and older adults. The recommendations further specify the amount of exercise (frequency, intensity and duration) required to improve depression severity significantly.
The recommendations are designed for people with depression seeking to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their lives; exercise physiologists, physical activity and exercise psychologists and other professionals specializing in physical activity and exercise working with people with depression; healthcare providers – including medical doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and psychologists – who support people with depression through advice and guidance; and policymakers and government officials responsible for formulating laws, defining strategies, and developing national, regional, or local plans to promote mental health, as well as overseeing healthcare and community-based intervention programs.
The guidelines were prepared following the WHO handbook for guideline development. An umbrella review of the evidence was conducted, assessing the critical and important outcomes, and recommendations were developed after considering the benefits and harms, values and preferences, feasibility and acceptability, and resource implications of various exercise comparisons and modalities.
The final recommendations presented in this document are for adults and older adults with depression. The development of these guidelines provides a set of evidence-based recommendations that individuals, professionals and organizations can adopt to tackle depression and promote physical activity and exercise.
The recommendations are based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, but gaps remain, particularly regarding the effectiveness of exercise long term, psychiatric and physical comorbidities, which require cautious, individualised consideration. Addressing these gaps will refine exercise guidelines, enhance confidence in findings, and ensure accessible, effective treatments for diverse populations worldwide.
The potential benefits of exercise in alleviating depressive symptoms highlight the importance of these guidelines. Given the burden of depression and the limitations of existing treatment options, exercise represents a promising, low-risk intervention with broad applicability. These guidelines provide clear, evidence-informed recommendations to support patients, healthcare providers, and exercise professionals in incorporating exercise as a complementary treatment strategy. Emphasizing the clinical relevance of this approach is essential to promote its adoption and integration into mental health care practices.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | EUPAG-DS |
| Number of pages | 66 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2025 |
