Final answer:
The statement is FALSE; physical activity benefits extend beyond reducing the risk of clinical depression to improving cardiovascular health, fitness, cognitive function, and reducing chronic disease risk. It also improves mental health by reducing stress, enhancing body image, and promoting self-esteem. Regular aerobic exercise can even rival antidepressants in treating depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that physical activity only reduces the risk of clinical depression is FALSE. Physical activity has a broad spectrum of health benefits, which extend beyond mental health improvements such as reducing the risk of clinical depression. It also contributes to increased cardiovascular and muscular fitness, enhances bone density and strength, improves cognitive function, assists with weight management, and is associated with a reduction in the risk for several chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Additional mental health benefits of physical activity include the reduction of stress, improvement in body image, and promotion of positive self-esteem.
Moreover, regular aerobic exercise has been found to be as effective as pharmaceutical antidepressants in treating mild-to-moderate depression, likely due to the increase in the biosynthesis of neurochemicals that act as natural euphoriants. This suggests a profound biopsychosocial impact of exercise on a person's overall health and well-being. Therefore, recommendations encourage adults to engage in regular physical activity, including aerobic exercises and muscle-strengthening activities, to reap extensive health benefits.