The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity

Illustration of Activities to Better Mental Health

Research shows the benefits of exercise and physical activity go beyond just physical well-being. Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Below are a few things you can do to help improve your mood:

Benefits of exercise

To learn more, go to nia.nih.gov/health/mental-and-emotional-health/mental-health-benefits-exercise-and-physical-activity. To learn more about the benefits of exercise visit www.nia.nih.gov/exercise.