![]() 1 Interestingly, adherence to physical activity interventions in psychiatric patients appears to be comparable to that in the general population.Įxercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. ![]() 4 While structured group programs can be effective for individuals with serious mental illness, lifestyle changes that focus on the accumulation and increase of moderate-intensity activity throughout the day may be the most appropriate for most patients. Other hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the beneficial effects of physical activity on mental health include distraction, self-efficacy, and social interaction. ![]() 3 This physiologic influence is probably mediated by the communication of the HPA axis with several regions of the brain, including the limbic system, which controls motivation and mood the amygdala, which generates fear in response to stress and the hippocampus, which plays an important part in memory formation as well as in mood and motivation. 3 These improvements in mood are proposed to be caused by exercise-induced increase in blood circulation to the brain and by an influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and, thus, on the physiologic reactivity to stress. 2Īerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. Evidence has suggested that exercise may be an often-neglected intervention in mental health care. The importance of exercise is not adequately understood or appreciated by patients and mental health professionals alike. 1 An essential component of lifestyle modification is exercise. Many of these individuals are at a high risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary behavior and medication side effects, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modifications can assume especially great importance in individuals with serious mental illness. Sir: In this era of exponential growth of the “metabolic syndrome” and obesity, lifestyle modifications could be a cost-effective way to improve health and quality of life.
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