science

Delivery might be part of it. The advice sounds very similar to the typical "if you want to be less depressed, just don't be depressed" or "you don't need bottle of something that rattles, you need a pair of sneakers and fresh air" business, so a lot of people automatically file it away under the same category.

Something like what the researchers suggested, where even moving a little bit helps, and it doesn't replace medication, though it may make it more effective, is better, but a lot of people will just read the headline and move off.

There are a lot of things people can do to help with depression, many don't even take physical effort. "Talk to family" is technically very easy, but when you are depressed, it's a huge challenge, even if you know it will make you feel better.

Not long ago I was talking to someone I know who struggles with depression and has always had a hard time motivating to exercise. They were talking about how their current living situation makes it really hard for them to exercise in a natural way, like going for a walk, because their location is not suitable for that. But they were looking forward to moving soon so they could solve that problem. And I said “That’s great, and I hope it works out. But I just want to point out how you have just given yourself a blanket excuse not to exercise until you move.” There’s no date set to move. It was totally just pushing the problem into the future in a self-serving but also self-harming way.

Some people don’t like hearing that they have more influence over how their life goes than any other single person in the world. I mean that’s a lot of responsibility to carry.