A small amount of weekly exercise may reduce depression symptoms in people with chronic illness

Aerobic exercise has proven benefits for managing depression. Yet for people with chronic illnesses, who are highly susceptible to depression, the illness itself often makes it hard to exercise. An analysis of studies, published online Oct. 29, 2025, by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests that people with chronic illnesses may need a relatively small amount of weekly exercise to ease depression.

Researchers reviewed 36 trials that examined the effect of aerobic exercise on depression in adults with chronic illness. They found that symptoms improved noticeably with less than 90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity over the course of a week.

The scientists measured exercise intensity using metabolic equivalents (METs), a calculation of energy expenditure. They then multiplied MET intensity by minutes of exercise over a week to come up with participants’ weekly totals of “MET minutes.” Just 405 MET minutes a week was enough to make what patients deemed an important difference in their depression symptoms. That’s equivalent to brisk walking (moderate activity, at 5 METs) for 27 minutes three times per week, or jogging (vigorous, at 7 METs) for 29 minutes twice a week.

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