What are the benefits to physical activity?

There are numerous benefits to participating in physical activity, including physical, mental, social and emotional benefits.

Physical Benefits include:

Reduced risk of some diseases. For example, health experts suggest that being more active can reduce your risk of developing a stroke or heart disease.

Reduced risk of physical health problems as our bodies adapt to stress.  As we become fitter, our bodies can better regulate our cortisol levels. Cortisol is a ‘stress hormone’ that our bodies release in response to anxiety.

Healthier organs. When you’re active your body is working more, which is good for your organs.

Healthier bones. Weight-bearing exercises will strengthen your bones and build your muscle.

Healthier weight. If you’re overweight, becoming more active can help you start to reduce body fat as your stamina and fitness levels improve.

More energy. As your body adapts to increased activity levels you get a natural energy boost, which can make you feel less tired.

Improved sleep. Many people find they are able to sleep better at night after having been more active during the day.

Mental benefits include:

  • Reduced anxiety and happier moods. When you exercise, your brain chemistry changes through the release of endorphins (sometimes called ‘feel good’ hormones), which can calm anxiety and lift your mood.
  • Reduced feelings of stress. You may experience reductions in feelings of stress and tension as your body is better able to control cortisol levels.
  • Clearer thinking. Some people find that exercise helps to break up racing thoughts. As your body tires so does your mind, leaving you calmer and better able to think clearly.
  • A greater sense of calm. Simply taking time out to exercise can give you space to think things over and help your mind feel calmer.
  • Increased self-esteem. When you start to see your fitness levels increase and your body improve, it can give your self-esteem a big boost. The sense of achievement you get from learning new skills and achieving your goals can also help you feel better about yourself and lift your mood. Improved self-esteem also has a protective effect that increases life satisfaction and can make you more resilient to feeling stressed.
  • Reduced risk of depression. If you’re more active there’s good evidence to suggest that at most ages, for both men and women, there’s a trend towards lower rates of depression. In fact one study has found that by increasing your activity levels from doing nothing to exercising at least three times a week, you can reduce your risk of depression by almost 20%.

Social and emotional benefits include:

  •  Making friends and connecting with people. Being around other people is good for our mental health and social networks – plus you can maximise the benefits of exercising by doing it with other people. You may find that the social benefits are just as important as the physical ones.
  • Having fun. Lots of us enjoy being active because it’s fun. Researchers have shown that there’s a link between the things we enjoy doing and improvements in our wellbeing overall. If you enjoy an activity you’re also more likely to keep doing it.
  • Challenging stigma and discrimination. Some people find that joining a sport programme helps reduce the stigma attached to their mental health problem. Getting involved in local projects with other people who share a common interest can be a great way to break down barriers and challenge discrimination.

Ambassadors at Dorset Mind interviewed personal trainers in Dorset about how exercise can help support wellbeing and their advice for others who would like to get active.

Dorset Mind's 5 Ways to Wellbeing

We encourage you to incorporate Dorset Mind’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing to help you live a mentally healthy life. Find out more on how you can connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give back through the 5 Ways.

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