The Link Between Brain Health and Exercise

The Link Between Brain Health and Exercise

 The positive impact that exercise has on the body is well known but the impact of exercise on mental health is just starting to garner the attention it deserves.

At Copare, not only have we seen an increase in the number of clients needing to lose a significant amount of weight, but we’ve also noticed an uptick in clients struggling with their mental health. We regularly encourage movement citing not only weight loss benefits but also mental health benefits that may be as simple as feeling a sense of accomplishment. But could our sedentary lives, more sitting and screen time during the pandemic, be resulting in a more anxious and depressed population? Are we unnecessarily prescribing drugs to treat depression when a prescribed exercise regimen may yield the same or better results with fewer side effects? The following article takes a deep dive into the positive effects of exercise on our mental health. It cites several impressive studies that compare the effects of exercise versus medications when treating depression. It also examines the role of a protein called BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) on our brain health and how exercise can boost its production. Also, how much exercise do we really need in order to have an impact?

Read more in this fascinating article- Exercise boosts the brain – and mental health by Bob Holmes.