It’s obvious that exercise is good for both your body and
mind. According to a study from Yale and Oxford, scientists collected data
about the physical behavior and mental mood of over 1.2 million Americans.
Participants were asked to answer the following question:
“How many times have you felt mentally unwell in the past 30 days, for example,
due to stress, depression, or emotional problems?” The participants were also
asked about their income and physical activity.
The scientist found that individuals who engaged in regular exercise tended to experience mental distress for about 35 days per year. In comparison, those who were not active experienced an additional 18 days of mental distress on average.
The researchers found that physically active individuals feel just as good as those who don't do sports. However, this doesn’t mean the more sport you engage in, the happier you become.
Adam Chekroud, one of the study's authors from Yale University, explained, "The relationship between the duration of sports and mental load is U-shaped." This means that there's a specific range where physical activity positively impacts mental well-being.
According to the findings, the ideal range is 3 to 5 training sessions per week, each lasting between 30 to 60 minutes, to contribute to better mental health.
Source: www.businessinsider.com
