Bodybuilding to powerlifting to training for sports, working out helps with a group of things, not only to keep the body healthy and to be strong in times of need but maybe even for mental health. But how much does it really help with your mental state?
The Science Behind the sweat
A huge study published by The Lancet Psychiatry analyzed data from over 1.2 million U.S. adults, they found that the individuals who engaged in regular physical activity reported 1.5 fewer days of poor mental health each month compared to those who did not exercise. Notably, team sports, cycling, aerobics, and gym workouts were associated with the most significant reductions in mental health burdens.
With further research that highlights moderate intensity exercise, such as walking or cycling for 45 minutes three to four times a week, help optimal health benefits.
A personal journey: From Struggle to strength
Consider the experience of Dr. Alison Greenwood, she is a former teacher in London. She ended up at her GP surgery suffering from immense stress. She asked for antidepressants but had a second thought and decided to turn to running instead helping her with her stress giving her a sense of purpose. Through that she opened up a charity called “Dose of Nature,” this just goes to show that you don’t have to lift weights to help but any form of exercise can hugely benefit your mental health.
With mental health becoming a much bigger thing with time, people go to things that either distract them or go to medication which should not be the default to helping people with mental health. With some people in this world. may deal with stuff like anxiety, depression, or even something with not feeling worthy of themselves, I talked with Core Butte student Luke Arnold about how he felt before and after he worked out and how it made him either happy or cured something that he may have struggled with, “I feel like when I wasn’t working out I felt like I didn’t have purpose, or as if I wasn’t doing anything significant. Now that I am working out I feel more like I’m taking care of myself and giving me some purpose, plus it’s fun.”
From fast food coming into the world like McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, and numerous other fast food restaurants that have been slowly building America into an unhealthy state creating more mental health issues. But in recent times we have seen a spike in fitness and healthier eating among the youth and older people too. Core Butte Senior Joseph Pereira says about how it helped him “I never really struggled with things like depression and stress but when I started working out it definitely helped with my overall happiness, also it helped me with just being active and creating more healthier habits.”