Which statement about exercise and nutrition in mental health treatment is accurate?

• A. Only medication matters.
• B. Exercise improves mood and sleep; nutrition affects inflammation and neurochemistry; lifestyle modification supports pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments.
• C. Nutrition alone cures mood disorders.
• D. Exercise worsens mood.

Answer: (B)

Integrating exercise and nutrition with standard treatments enhances mental health outcomes. Exercise improves mood and sleep through mechanisms like endorphin release, better sleep quality, and reduced stress; it also supports brain function and resilience. Nutrition influences inflammation and neurochemistry, which play roles in mood regulation and brain signaling. Together with medications and psychotherapy, healthy lifestyle changes can boost treatment response, adherence, and overall functioning.

Medications and therapy are important, but evidence shows that adding regular physical activity and a balanced diet provides additional benefits and can improve symptom management. Nutrition alone does not cure mood disorders, and exercising does not worsen mood—in fact, it tends to improve it.