by Depression.com

About the author: Depression.com is a website that provides information on depression and mental health treatments.

Exercise helps treat depression in four ways:
1. It releases endorphins, the body’s own mood-elevating, pain-relieving compounds.
2. It reduces levels of the stress-depression hormone, cortisol, in the blood.
3. It helps provide perspective on life.
4. It provides a feeling of accomplishment, which enhances self-esteem.

Many, many studies demonstrate that exercise helps treat depression. Here are summaries of just a few:

Exercise and Depression

At the University of Illinois, researchers surveyed 401 adults about their health, mental health, and lifestyle. The more time the respondents spent in strenuous exercise, the less depression, anxiety, and insomnia they reported.

At Harvard University, researchers divided 32 mildly-to-moderately depressed individuals over age 60 into two groups. Half continued to live as they had. The other...