Food and exercise can treat depression as well as a psychologist, our study found. And it’s cheaper
Food and Exercise Can Treat Depression as Well as a Psychologist, Our Study Found. And It’s Cheaper
What’s the Connection Between Food, Exercise, and Depression?
Around 3.2 million Australians live with depression. While few Australians meet recommended dietary or physical activity guidelines, what has one got to do with the other? Our world-first trial, published this week, shows improving diet and doing more physical activity can be as effective as therapy with a psychologist for treating low-grade depression.
Our Study: Comparing Lifestyle Therapies with Psychological Therapies
During the prolonged COVID lockdowns, Victorians’ distress levels were high and widespread. Face-to-face mental health services were limited. Our trial targeted people living in Victoria with elevated distress, meaning at least mild depression but not necessarily a diagnosed mental disorder. Typical symptoms included feeling down, hopeless, irritable or tearful.
We partnered with our local mental health service to recruit 182 adults and provided group-based sessions on Zoom. All participants took part in up to six sessions over eight weeks, facilitated by health professionals. Half were randomly assigned to participate in a program co-facilitated by an accredited practising dietitian and an exercise physiologist. That group – called the lifestyle program – developed nutrition and movement goals.
What Were the Lifestyle Goals?
The lifestyle program aimed to:
- Eat a wide variety of foods
- Choose high-fibre plant foods
- Include high-quality fats
- Limit discretionary foods, such as those high in saturated fats and added sugars
- Do enjoyable physical activity
What Were the Psychotherapy Goals?
The psychotherapy program used cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the gold standard for treating depression in groups and when delivered remotely. Participants in the psychotherapy program received a workbook and hamper with items such as a colouring book, stress ball, and head massager.
Were the Results Similar?
We found similar results in each program. At the trial’s beginning, we gave each participant a score based on their self-reported mental health. We measured them again at the end of the program. Over eight weeks, those scores showed symptoms of depression reduced for participants in the lifestyle program (42%) and the psychotherapy program (37%). That difference was not statistically or clinically meaningful, so we could conclude both treatments were as good as each other.
What Were the Key Differences?
People in the lifestyle program improved their diet, while those in the psychotherapy program felt they had increased their social support – meaning how connected they felt to other people – compared to at the start of the treatment. Participants in both programs increased their physical activity.
What Does This Mean for Mental Health Workforce Shortages?
Demand for mental health services is increasing in Australia, while at the same time the workforce faces worsening nation-wide shortages. Psychologists, who provide about half of all mental health services, can have long wait times. Our results suggest that, with the appropriate training and guidelines, allied health professionals who specialise in diet and exercise could help address this gap.
Potential Barriers
Increased training, upskilling, and Medicare subsidies would be needed to support dietitians and exercise physiologists to be involved in treating mental health issues.
Future Directions
We are seeking to replicate these findings and are now running a study open to Australians with mental health conditions such as major depression or bipolar disorder.
Conclusion
Our study shows that lifestyle therapies can be as effective as psychological therapies for treating low-grade depression. As we found lifestyle counselling was as effective as psychological therapy, our findings suggest dietitians and exercise physiologists may one day play a role in managing depression.
FAQs
Q: How did the study participants improve their mental health?
A: Participants in both programs reported reduced symptoms of depression over the eight-week period.
Q: What were the main differences between the lifestyle and psychotherapy programs?
A: People in the lifestyle program improved their diet, while those in the psychotherapy program felt they had increased their social support.
Q: What does this mean for mental health workforce shortages?
A: Our results suggest that allied health professionals who specialise in diet and exercise could help address mental health workforce shortages.
Q: Is this a cost-effective solution?
A: The lifestyle program was slightly cheaper to deliver than the psychotherapy program.
Q: Can dietitians and exercise physiologists be trained to treat mental health issues?
A: Yes, with increased training, upskilling, and Medicare subsidies, dietitians and exercise physiologists could be involved in treating mental health issues.
