January 9, 2026
Sweat vs. sadness showdown
Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
Internet erupts: “Go for a run” vs “I can’t get out of bed” as study says exercise rivals therapy
TLDR: A major review says exercise can help depression about as much as therapy, with mixed evidence versus medication. It matters because exercise is cheap and accessible, but commenters clash: evolution fans cheer, ‘just work out’ critics bristle, and medication advocates remind that some need pills, not pep talks.
Grab your water bottle—the comments are sparring. A new Cochrane review says regular exercise can ease depression about as well as talk therapy, and maybe even antidepressants (that last bit is lower-certainty). Cue the internet rumble: gym evangelists cheered, med defenders bristled, and the “it’s complicated” crowd begged for nuance.
The hottest take? One user claimed therapy is “barely effective,” sparking a pile-on from people who say that’s a cruel oversimplification. Another fan-favorite line: humans are “optimized to move,” which became the day’s meme. But the most-upvoted reality check was the classic chicken-and-egg problem—depression drains motivation, so telling someone to work out can feel like telling a drowning person to swim harder.
Lived experiences added heart. One commenter with diabetes described spotting mood crashes with high blood sugar and feeling better after short workouts. Another said antidepressants were a lifesaver and begged people to stop tossing out “just exercise” as advice when someone can’t get out of bed. The study itself was cautious: small trials, limited follow-up, and no clear winner for the long haul—though light-to-moderate activity, 13–36 sessions, and mixing cardio with resistance training looked promising. Yoga and similar routines weren’t tested. Verdict from the crowd: promising, yes—but not a one-size-fits-all cure.
Key Points
- •Exercise led to moderate reductions in depressive symptoms versus no treatment across 73 RCTs involving nearly 5,000 adults.
- •Exercise showed similar effectiveness to psychological therapy, supported by moderate-certainty evidence from ten trials.
- •Comparisons with antidepressants suggested comparable effects, but evidence was limited and low certainty.
- •Adverse events were uncommon; exercise injuries were occasional, while antidepressants had typical side effects.
- •Light to moderate intensity and programs including resistance or mixed activities were more effective; 13–36 sessions linked to greater improvement.