Studies often report beneficial effects of physical exercise on depression symptomatology, both in clinical and community samples. In clinical samples, effects are observed using physical exercise as primary treatment and supplement to antidepressant medications and/or psychotherapies. Magnitudes vary with sample characteristics, exercise measure, and study rigor. Both propensity to exercise and vulnerability to depression show genetic influences, suggesting gene–environment interplay. We investigated this in a Danish Twin Registry-based community sample who completed a cycle fitness test and detailed assessments of depression symptomatology and regular exercise engagement that enabled estimates of typical total, intentional exercise-specific, and other metabolic equivalent (MET) expenditures. All exercise-related measures correlated negatively with depression symptomatology (− .07 to − .19). Genetic variance was lower at higher levels of cycle fitness, with genetic and shared environmental correlations of − .50 and 1.0, respectively. Nonshared environmental variance in depression was lower at higher levels of total MET, with no indications of genetic or environmental covariance. Being physically active and/or fit tended to prevent depression, apparently because fewer participants with higher levels of activity and fitness reported high depression symptomatology. This was driven by nonshared environmental influences on activity but genetic influences on physical fitness. Genetic correlation suggested people less genetically inclined toward physical fitness may also be genetically vulnerable to depression, possibly because inertia impedes activity but also possibly due to social pressures to be fit. Exercise programs for general well-being should emphasize participation, not performance level or fitness. We discuss possible interrelations between fitness aptitude and metabolism.

研究经常报告体育锻炼对临床和社区样本中抑郁症症状的有益影响。在临床样品中，使用体育锻炼作为主要治疗方法并补充了抗抑郁药和/或心理疗法，可观察到效果。幅度随样本特征，运动方式和研究严格性而变化。运动倾向和抑郁症易感性均显示出遗传影响，表明基因与环境之间的相互作用。我们在一个基于丹麦双胞胎注册中心的社区样本中对此进行了调查，该样本完成了循环适应性测试并详细评估了抑郁症症状和定期运动，从而可以估算典型的总支出，有意运动和其他代谢当量（MET）的支出。所有与运动有关的措施与抑郁症症状呈负相关（-.07至-.19）。在较高的周期适应度水平下，遗传方差较低，遗传和共享环境相关系数分别为-.50和1.0。在较高的总MET水平下，抑郁症的非共享环境方差较低，没有迹象表明遗传或环境协方差。从事体育活动和/或保持健康倾向于预防抑郁症，这显然是因为活动和健身水平较高的参与者较少，其抑郁症症状较高。这是由于环境对活动的非共有影响，但遗传因素对身体健康的影响。遗传相关性表明，那些不太喜欢健身的人在遗传上也容易患抑郁症，可能是因为惯性阻碍了活动，也可能是由于要适应的社会压力。为实现总体健康而制定的锻炼计划应强调参与，而不是表现水平或健康状况。我们讨论了健身能力和新陈代谢之间可能的相互关系。