Overview
- The umbrella review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine synthesized 57 meta-analyses for depression (800 studies; 57,930 participants) and 24 for anxiety (258 studies; 19,368 participants).
- Exercise produced a medium reduction in depression symptoms (SMD −0.61) and a small-to-medium reduction in anxiety (SMD −0.47).
- Aerobic activity delivered the strongest overall effects, with supervised and group formats most effective for depression and shorter, lower-intensity programs most associated with anxiety relief.
- The most pronounced improvements were reported in adults aged 18–30 and in postnatal women.
- Authors report effects comparable to medication and psychotherapy and call for tailored exercise prescriptions, while noting heterogeneity and many low-quality meta-analyses that warrant further rigorous trials.