INTRODUCTION
There have been over 25 years of systematic investigation
examining the relationship between exercise, especially
aerobic forms and weight training, and depression. Recent
meta-analyses support the growing evidence that exercise
may be an effective complementary therapy in treatment of
depression. Depression is associated with a high incidence of
co-morbid somatic illnesses. Individuals suffering from major
depression run a higher relative risk of coronary heart
disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis compared
with the general population. Depression also is associated
with poor cognitive functioning. The aim of this review is to
present a comprehensive overview of beneficial effects of
exercise on mental (i.e. mood and cognitive functioning) as
well as somatic health of depressed individuals. To the
authors knowledge, this is the first review that discuses both
mental and somatic health benefits of regularly exercise on
depression.