Regular exercise is one of the best therapies for children and teens suffering from mood disorders, a new study suggests.Researchers found anxiety and depression decrease when kids take part in structured exercise programs. They reviewed data from 375 clinical trials involving more than 38,000 kids 5 to 18 years of age. According to the results, anxiety levels dropped when participants engaged in low-intensity resistance training, such as lifting weights. And depressive symptoms improved with moderate-intensity workouts combining aerobic and strength exercises.The benefits were strong whether the participants worked out 1 or 3 days per week.The researchers say these findings suggest exercise could help improve kids’ moods without the use of drugs like antidepressants.The lead investigator says, “Exercise is a low-cost, widely accessible strategy that could make a real difference to children’s mental health,”Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent PsychiatryAuthor Affiliations: University of South Australia, The University of Manchester .Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter