Exercise May Ease Anxiety, Especially Mind-Body and Aerobic Workouts
Graded Moderate — meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials with 2,408 adults, yet very high heterogeneity across studies and limited blinding keep confidence in the pooled result low.
- Design
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- Participants
- 2,408
- Duration
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- Funding
- Authors declare no competing interests.
This review suggests mind-body or aerobic exercise for at least 8 weeks may help ease anxiety symptoms.
Looking at 10 studies of about 2,400 adults with generalized anxiety, researchers found exercise was linked to lower anxiety symptoms. Mind-body workouts like yoga and aerobic exercise showed the biggest effects, while resistance training results were unclear. Programs lasting 8 weeks or more with sessions of 21 to 40 minutes seemed most helpful. However, the studies varied widely, so the authors caution this is suggestive, not definitive.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors declare no competing interests.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
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