Drs. Oz and Roizen: How to reduce your risk for postpartum depression

It’s tough to know how many people suffer postpartum depression (there’s indication that men can have it, too), but for women, it’s thought to be 13% or more. And it has increased dramatically over the past decade or so, with a 60% increase among Whites and a 140% increase among Blacks, according to a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This increase can be correlated with the increase in sedentary behavior and obesity.

Now a new study in BMJ Sports Medicine has found that as little as 80 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling or resistance training, cuts the risk for postpartum depression nearly in half and eases the severity of depression and anxiety if it does occur.