Study: weightlifting reduces anxiety and depression in young women at any intensity
Research shows resistance training delivers significant mental health benefits regardless of whether sessions use high or low weight loads.
What to know
- A recent study found weightlifting produces large antidepressant effects in young women with anxiety, regardless of whether they train at high or low intensity.
- The research was widely shared across social platforms including Reddit and Mastodon starting September 12, 2026.
- Discussion centers on distinguishing the persistent baseline mood improvement from fitness versus acute pleasure, and extending benefits beyond the studied population to other exercise forms.
Regular resistance training and fitness create consistent baseline mental health improvements, distinct from acute pleasure.
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“It's just a consistent feeling of baseline stability. Like yeah, if you do body weight exercises three times a week and cardio three times a week and you sleep well and you eat enough vegetables and protein you feel good.”
Even-Atmosphere1814 · Reddit ↗
The mental health benefits of resistance training are supported by multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses across anxiety and depression.
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“There are many benefits and mental health improvements associated specifically with resistance training alone”
rendar · Reddit ↗
Exercise benefits are not universal and may extend beyond weightlifting to other forms like walking.
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“I can anecdotally say that I agree! Walking also appears to do the same for me :)”
SH4D0WSTAR · Reddit ↗
PsyPost Psychology research publication
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump postscomments
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Users discuss mental health benefits of consistent fitness
Reddit commenters shared personal experiences about how regular exercise creates a baseline mental stability distinct from acute pleasure, and noted that mental benefits are often overlooked compared to physical results.
“People that have never been fit don't understand how good it feels to be fit but it's still not like a going out and having a great meal and drinking and dancing kind of feel good. It's just a consistent feeling of baseline stability.”
— Even-Atmosphere1814 -
Yeah I think that's the problem. People that have never been fit don't understand how good it feels to be fit but it's still not like a going out and having a great meal and drinking and dancing kind of feel good. It's just a consistent feeling of baseline stability. Like yeah, if you do body weight exercises three times a week and cardio three…
2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
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Weightlifting offers large antidepressant effects for young women with anxiety, regardless of intensity https://www. psypost.org/weightlifting-offe rs-large-antidepressant-effects-for-young-women-with-anxiety-regardless-of-intensity/
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There are many benefits and mental health improvements associated specifically with resistance training alone: The Effects of Resistance Exercise Training on Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Association of Efficacy of Resistance Exercise Training With Depressive Symptoms - Meta-analysis and…
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Mental health researchers flag research quality variations
Psychbot, a mental health information bot on Mastodon, shared the study with a note that research quality varies widely and recommends checking research methods when conclusions are important.
“Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you.”
— psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org -
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DATE: September 12, 2026 at 02:00PM SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG ** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. ** ------------------------------------------------- TITLE: Weightlifting offers large antidepressant effects for young women with anxiety…
2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
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I can anecdotally say that I agree! Walking also appears to do the same for me :)
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Weightlifting offers large antidepressant effects for young women with anxiety, regardless of intensity https://www. psypost.org/weightlifting-offe rs-large-antidepressant-effects-for-young-women-with-anxiety-regardless-of-intensity/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon&utm_campaign=%40psypost%40mstdn.social
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background
Study reports weightlifting reduces anxiety and depression in young women — Research published on PsyPost found that weightlifting offers significant antidepressant effects for young women with anxiety, and the benefits occur regardless of whether training occurs at standard high intensity or low intensity.
What people are saying 7 voices from 2 sites · best of 13 · verbatim
- Sep 13
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Individual study of N:1 confirms that is can have a large antidepressant effect on anyone if they enjoy the activity.
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Try to see it that it's something you're learning. Like learning how to properly do deep pause squats or deadlifts or pull ups etc. Makes it way more fun. You focus on improvement without focusing on shallow things. Just going for your health or looks every week gets boring fast.
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I watch a youtuber that has this bad. He said that the tiredness is caused by the same mechanism as when you have a terrible sickness and your body shuts you down so you are forced to rest. Except that the mechanism is on much of the time, and doing things only makes it worse.
- Sep 12
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https://www. europesays.com/us/1060187/ Weightlifting offers large antidepressant effects for young women with anxiety, regardless of intensity # Health # MentalHealth # UnitedStates # UnitedStates # US
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Until you find out what you are actually training for. I lift to be a better figure skater and dancer. Keeps the muscles and joints in great health. Goal in life is to be retired and still able to do both activities at a good level. I've seen others do it.
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I heard from one prominent fitness youtuber, that the ability to enjoy exercise itself is partially genetic. Some people aren't born to enjoy it no matter the exercise if that's any consolation, it might not be the type of exercise you do at all. You're still a newbie though, so you might find something that works for you yet, whether it's groups…
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https://www. psypost.org/weightlifting-offe rs-large-antidepressant-effects-for-young-women-with-anxiety-regardless-of-intensity/