The ObservatoryMovement as medicine
Modest but real numbers on what movement does for mood
How it works
- What movement actually doesChoose
- Modest but realRate
Movement as medicine for low mood is not a slogan — but the effect is moderate, not magical. Here is what has actually been measured.
Exercise in 2 steps, about 6 minutes. Doing it is part of Premium, which you try free for 7 days with no card. With Premium your answers are saved so you can pick up where you left off and look back at what you wrote.
Try PremiumThe rest of the text and the exercise are part of Premium. You try everything for 7 days with no card, and can cancel whenever you like. Sign in if you already have an account.
Why does it work?
The WHO recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week is the global consensus guideline for adults. The link between physical activity and a lower risk of later developing depression rests on a synthesis of longitudinal studies (Schuch et al., 2018): the most active had about 17% lower risk than the least active. The link is statistical, not a guarantee for the individual, and movement does not replace treatment for clinical depression.
Account, your first assessment with the hexagon and one new measurement every quarter are free. The rest is part of Premium: SEK 99 a month or SEK 699 a year, VAT included.
Read more
Movement is medicine for mood
What the research actually says about exercise and mood, and why ten minutes in nature goes further than you'd think.
Exercise8 minMovement for mood
Use a small dose of movement as a mood tool, not as a training duty.
Exercise12 minThe self-contract
New behaviors do not hold up on their own at the start. Write the contract that pays you until the habit does.