A major new study reviewing more than 1,000 clinical trials has found exercise may be one of the most effective and accessible treatments for depression and anxiety; a finding that strongly aligns with the Whitsundays’ active lifestyle and growing running community.
The research was led by Neil Munro, a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at James Cook University, and analysed a vast body of global evidence examining the relationship between exercise and mental health outcomes.
“There have been more than a thousand studies on this subject, we wanted to synthesise this vast body of evidence, cut through conflicting findings and provide the clearest picture yet of exercise’s impact on mental health,” said Mr Munro.
The research team conducted a “meta-meta-analysis”, reviewing 81 separate meta-analyses that collectively included nearly 80,000 participants across more than 1,000 individual trials.
Mr Munro said the findings were particularly strong for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders.
“There were particularly strong effects for people with diagnosed depression and anxiety disorders. For depression specifically, the greatest benefits were seen in two key groups: people aged 18 to 30 and postnatal women,” he said.
“This finding is especially significant given how under-served these populations often are in accessing traditional mental health care.”
The study found aerobic activities such as walking and running delivered the greatest benefits, particularly when exercise was supervised or undertaken in groups.
“Supervised and group-based programs delivered the greatest benefits. For anxiety, shorter-term programs of up to eight weeks, performed at a comfortable pace, were especially effective challenging the idea that only intense workouts yield results,” said Mr Munro.
These findings mirror the structured training opportunities offered by the Whitsunday Running Club, which provides a supportive weekly schedule including interval training, social runs, parkrun and long slow runs across Airlie Beach and Cannonvale.
“Rather than simply advising individuals to ‘exercise more’, referrals to structured, supervised programs may be key,” Mr Munro said.
“For those facing barriers to traditional care, the message is clear: moving your body, especially with others, can be a powerful step toward better mental health.”
Residents are encouraged to lace up for their mental health with Whitsunday Running Club offering several regular group sessions. Photo source: Whitsunday Running Club
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