There is a significant relationship between physical activity and depression. The hardest part about physical activity can be getting into the routine of working out and becoming active. Gaining motivation to break bad habits can be difficult. Exercise plays an important role in mental health. Making improvements to your body can help you gain confidence and self-love. Physical activity can also be used as a coping strategy. Depression can cause someone to fall into bad habits such as alcohol or drugs. Using physical activity is the healthiest way to cope as it releases feel-good endorphins and can be used to take away negative thoughts.
From intervention studies, it was shown that both type of intensities were effective in reducing the likelihood of depression (Teychenne, Megan; Ball, Kylie and Salmon, Jo. 2008). Higher intensity exercises are more likely to decrease the amount of the likelihood of depression. Even low intensity exercises can make a difference in someone's mental health. Whether the work out is short or long, it makes a positive effect on the body, physically and mentally. Everyone should take at least less than an hour of their day to participate in any type of physical activity. "A number of countries such as, UK, US and Australia, have developed health-related physical activity guidelines, that recommends that all adults must participate in at least 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all days of the week" (Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 1999b, American College of Sports Medicine, 2000, Chief Medical Officer's Report, 2004). ​