If you do one thing this week. . . exercise for your mental health

WE OFTEN hear about the importance of exercise for physical fitness and strength, but working out can be a tonic for the mind as well as the body.

One study in Canada looked at the effects of exercise on a group of 30 obese adolescents. Twice a week for 10 weeks the participants exercised on a stationary bike either listening to music or as part of an interactive video game. And guess what?

“Aerobic exercise was associated with improvements in body image, perceived academic performance, and social competence in obese adolescents, and these psychological benefits were related to improved aerobic fitness but not changes in body composition,” write the authors in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

“This new study is proof positive that even a modest dose of exercise is prescriptive for a mental health boost,” said University of Ottawa researcher Dr Gary Goldfield in a release.