Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

How to Lift Worry Along with Weights

In randomized controlled trials, people who lifted weights or did other resistance training were also able to lift worry and anxiety.

Lifting weights makes your muscles stronger; it may also make you feel less anxious. Can you really lift worry off your shoulders as you do your weight-lifting routine?

Studies Show Weight-Lifting Helps Lift Worry and Anxiety:

An analysis of 16 previous studies found that people randomly assigned to do resistance training had less anxiety than those assigned to do no exercise. Both men and women benefited equally. Healthy people were able to lift worry more than those previously diagnosed with a mental illness such as chronic anxiety. Nonetheless, even anxious people got a boost.

Most studies on the mental health benefits of exercise have focused on aerobic activity. This study shows that resistance exercise also can improve mental health. In the studies, the subjects lifted weights two to five days a week for approximately three months. The researchers urge others to compare resistance training to standard treatments for anxiety.

Gordon et al, Sports Medicine, online Aug. 17, 2017 

Other Nondrug Approaches to Lift Worry and Anxiety:

Lifting weights is not the only nondrug treatment that shows promise for treating anxiety. A recent study in children showed that cognitive behavioral therapy may be a good option.

Anxiety can affect children as much as adults. It is estimated that anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of youngsters suffer from debilitating anxiety. When children are treated with medicines used to treat psychiatric disorders in adults, however, they may not do well. What can be done to help kids with anxiety?

Ways to Help Kids with Anxiety:

A review of 15 studies that included more than 7,700 children found that SSRI-type antidepressant drugs like sertraline or fluoxetine worked better than placebo to alleviate symptoms. Benzodiazepine medications such as alprazolam (Xanax) are the mainstay for treating anxiety in adults. However, such drugs did not work for kids with anxiety.

On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy was quite effective. It helped more than fluoxetine or sertraline did and, even better, there were no side effects. The investigators concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy is a viable treatment for childhood anxiety.

Wang et al, JAMA Pediatrics, Aug. 31, 2017

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
4.9- 16 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.