Studies find growing evidence linking weight, physical activity, neuroplasticity and depression

Being overweight can cause depression — and exercise is an antidote, dual studies confirm (Runner’s World): A large-scale study from the University of Exeter has found ‘robust evidence’ that being overweight hikes up your risk of developing depression – but as fresh evidence confirms, logging your morning miles is one of the most effective ways to fight back. Exercise jolts your brain into action, and not just because of the endorphin high … ‘Obesity and depression are both major global health challenges, and our study provides the most robust evidence to date that higher BMI causes depression,’ said lead author Jess O’Loughlin. ‘Understanding whether physical or social factors are responsible for this relationship can help inform effective strategies to improve mental health and wellbeing.’ ‘Our research suggests that being fatter leads to a higher risk of depression, regardless of the role of metabolic health,’ she continues. ‘This suggests that both physical health and social factors, such as social stigma, both play a role in the relationship between obesity and depression’ … Exercise combats depression with a one-two punch, the Ruhr-Universität Bochum team found: not only does it neutralise symptoms, but it also increases the brain’s ability to change, known as neuroplasticity. For the study, they enlisted 41 people undergoing treatment for depression and assigned half of them to a three-week exercise programme developed by the sports s...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brain/ Mental Health body mass index Brain-Plasticity depression depressive disorders generalized anxiety disorder metabolic health neuroplasticity obesity Physical-activity Physical-Exercise Transcranial-Magnetic-Stimulation Source Type: blogs