Exercise for depression as a primary and comorbid with obesity disorder: A narrative

Abstract

Depression is a serious mental health disorder and would be the major public health problem worldwide by 2030. To this extent, conventional depression treatments are challenged and alternative or add-on antidepressant interventions are essential. In this narrative, we discuss the antidepressant role of exercise. Particularly, we discuss clinical evidence from meta-analytic reviews for the causal link of exercise with depression relief in adults (18-65years) with major depression diagnosis as a primary disorder. Also, the mean- and individual-based pragmatic evidence for the antidepressant effect of exercise in depressed adults is described. Finally, we discuss the effects of exercise on depression as a comorbid with obesity disorder because obesity contributes to depression development regardless of the weight inducing metabolic side effects. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.