Effects of exercise and weight loss on depressive symptoms among men and women with hypertension

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate changes in depressive symptoms in hypertensive individuals participating in an exercise and weight loss intervention. METHODS: This study involved 133 sedentary men and women with high blood pressure (BP; 130-180 mmHg systolic BP and/or 85-110 mmHg diastolic BP) who participated in a 6-month intervention consisting of three groups: aerobic exercise, aerobic exercise and weight loss, and a waiting list control. RESULTS: Participants in both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in aerobic capacity and lower BP compared with participants in the control group. Participants in the active treatment groups who had mild to moderate depressive symptoms at baseline also exhibited greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared with participants in the control group. CONCLUSION: Results from the present study suggest that exercise, alone or combined with weight management, may reduce self-reported depressive symptoms among patients with hypertension.