Does exercise make us happier?

Exercise is known to be associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes, but its association with mental health remains unclear.

In the study published by The Lancet physical exercise was significantly and meaningfully associated with self-reported mental health burden in the past month. More exercise was not always better.

The largest associations were seen for popular team sports, cycling, and aerobic and gym activities, as well as durations of 45 min and frequencies of three to five times per week.

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30227-X/fulltext#seccestitle10