The Effect of Exercise for Individuals with Mental Health Conditions

    I wanted to research the correlations between exercise and mental health disorders because I work with clients everyday trying to overcome their disordered eating habits and making a commitment to bettering their health. I, too, struggle with staying consistent with my exercise program and controlling the urges to eat unhealthy and it is unbelievably debilitating. Your mind is a powerful thing that can convince you to push yourself or it can hold you back and create a domino effect around your health.

    Obesity is becoming one of the leading causes of death worldwide with a simple, preventable solution: increasing exercise levels. Consistent exercise produces more endorphins in the brain, increasing peace of mind and mental well-being. The consistency and commitment to exercise allows individuals to feel a deeper meaning to their life (Liu, F., et al., 2024). If individuals are uncomfortable exercising alone due to the anxiety of embarrassing themselves or getting hurt, exercising with a peer or in a group creates and warmer, more welcoming environment, turning exercise into a fun activity rather than a grueling or daunting workout (Harada, K., et al., 2019). 

    The impact of mental health can help determine the course of treatment for a patient; it allows psychologists and other mental health professionals to create a more effective treatment plan and help these individuals better their health. Exercise can help individuals cope with their, oftentimes, overbearing thoughts and delusions; through exercise these individuals can take back control of their lives and not be a victim to their own mind (Collins, W.M., et al., 2025). Exercise can and will promote longevity in individuals with mental health struggles and can help them overcome their fear or anxiety. You can check out the book “Body Image: Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men, Women, and Children” by Sarah Grogan because it details the experiences of individuals with debilitating body dysmorphia and how they have worked through it. It is completely normal to have mental health struggles, it may even be normal to let those struggles completely take over your life, but I want to help people overcome them. I want to help people enjoy their lives thoroughly and the first step to getting there is to make a commitment to yourself.

References: 

1. Liu, F., Yu, P., Wu, J., & Guo, L. (2024). The Influence of Exercise Adherence on Peace of Mind Among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model. Frontiers in Public Health. 1-11.

2. Harada, K., Masumoto, K., & Kondo, N. (2019) Exercising Alone or Exercising with Other and Mental Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Longitudinal Analysis of Cross-Lagged and Simultaneous Effects. Human Kinetics, 16, 556-564.

3. Patterson, M.S., Gagnon, L. R., Vukelich, A., Brown, S. E., Nelon, J. L., Prochnow, T. (2021). Social Networks, Group Exercise, and Anxiety Among College Students. Journal of American College Health, 69(4), 361-369.

4. Collins, W.M., Miranda, W., & Boucher, L. (2025). Short Bouts, Big Impact: The Cognitive Benefits of Brief Exercise. American Psychological Association, 14(3), 457-470.