I'm seeing now where you got your inaccurate reading of the study.
While Dr. Singh is going around summarizing his article in a rather extreme way, an analysis of the study shows problems with the way he's reporting it:
"The study encompassed 97 meta-reviews of 1,039 randomized controlled trials involving 128,119 participants.While this body of research generally concluded that exercise produced effects similar to those of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, variations in study methodologies made developing an overall consensus a challenge.The trials evaluated differing forms of exercise, in varying dosages. They also involved different population subgroups, comparing them to different control groups.In the end, said Dr. Singh, “It showed exercise is an effective way to treat mental health issues — and can be even more effective than medication or counseling.”
"can be even more effective" Singh says. But that is a VERY vague statement contradicted by the analysis above. Meta-reviews, by the way, are notoriously problematic to interpreted.
Notice the much milder conclusion stated initially:
"produced effects similar to those of therapy and meds"
Similar to
not better than
and what does "effects" refer to? Cure? Reduction of overall depression?
one of the common symptoms of depression is severe fatigue> Assuming someone can even get out of bed to exercise, perhaps the "effects" the study referred to don't involve any reduction of feelings of despair and hopelessness, but simply increase energy.
Well, it wouldn't quite be as click-bait worthy if you wrote:
NEWS FLASH: Although exercise has very little effect on most of the symptoms of depression, it turns out it's 1.5 times more effective in increasing energy (by a minimal amount, to be honest) than pills or therapy.
And right before Dr. Singh is quoted, the analysis also concedes that "developing an overall consensus" is a challenge.
Hardly the stuff of a major breakthrough.
Should people with any mental health issues exercise? If well coached, taking care to develop exercise programs suitable for them, absolutely. I would estimate that of the 3000 or so patients I've seen, I might have failed 2 or 3 times to mention the vital importance of exercise (along with developing a good support system, eating well, etc)
How many people on average in the US get even minimal levels of recommended exercise? About 20%
Of the many people who resolve to exercise who haven't started before, what percentage fail to maintain a new program?
About 70-80%.
So I think it would bet helpful, if you're a non scientist reporting on scientific research, to be a bit more cautious in regard to the possibility of inaccurately reporting the data and conclusions.