Another reason to add more physical activity to a daily routine: Sedentary behavior has been found to increase depression and negatively affect mood and mental health in a recent study.
Possible explanations for the results include both the psychological and the physiological. Mentally, exercise may translate to improved self-confidence in the ability to handle challenging events, and physically, endorphins and the transmission of serotonin and other chemicals in the brain improve with activity. After 1 week back to more active routines, the participants experienced improved moods and a drop in depression.