Health News: New analysis looks at the amount of exercise needed to provide measurable mental health benefits.

We have known for a long time that exercise is an effective way of helping ward off depression, but unfortunately one of the effects of depression is to make it harder to start, or stick with, an exercise program. New research published this month in JAMA Psychiatry shows that even half the amount of exercise recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO recommends 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate physical activity) can help prevent depression. This is great news for those who struggle to fit exercise into an already busy schedule, and for those who find the prospect of that much additional activity too daunting to begin. While our mental and physical health would certainly improve with more movement, it is comforting to hear that even a little bit provides measurable benefits, and we can all be reassured with whatever small start we are able to make.