Start exercising weekly for a healthier and happier you.

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A recent study led by the Black Dog Institute found that an hour of regular exercise of any intensity per week could help prevent future depression. The study, which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, revealed that exercise can protect you against depression, and have various mental health benefits regardless of your age or gender.

Researchers used data from the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County, one of the largest and most comprehensive population-based health surveys that were conducted over a period of more than 13 years.

A healthy group of participants were also asked at baseline to report their frequency of exercise and the intensity (ranging from without becoming breathless or sweating, to becoming breathless and sweating, or exhausting themselves) of it. At the follow-up stage, they were required to complete a self-report questionnaire to indicate any emerging anxiety or depression.

The results found that participants who reported not doing any exercise, had a 44 per cent more chance of developing depression as compared to those who did one to two hours a week.

If exercising hasn’t really been your priority, it’s time to make space in your busy schedules for workouts to keep you fit and happy. Start with light exercise once a week before gradually increasing the frequency and intensity of it.

(Also read: 7 Workout Alternatives to Running)