One of the things that lead me to exercise and nutrition was mental health. Here is another study that shows just how important exercise can be in preserving good mental health. The study, done by the University of Vermont, examined bullied adolescents. They wanted to see if exercise could reduce suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

The current data showed that increased exercise improved mood for all adolescents, but the researchers wanted to see how it affected one of the most vulnerable groups. After their research was complete, they found a 23% reduction in both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. While this was the expected result, the researchers took their time to make sure that their statistics were rigorous enough to stand up to scientific scrutiny. The study followed around 13,500 students.

It’s also important to know that exercise isn’t the magic bullet for removing negative thoughts, but that there does seem to be a correlation. However, exercise is something that just about any child can do. The children in this study exercised four times a week.

You don’t have to wait for scientific approval to take advantage of exercise though. Try it yourself. Get up and move around more as often as you can and note your mood. You’ll soon discover whether exercise really can improve your mood or not.

Want more advice on how to exercise to improve your mental health? Contact Frank Tortorici for a fitness consultation.