Healthy living
Exercise and fitness
Banish the blues with a workout
If you are suffering from depression, gentle exercise may be just as effective at relieving your symptoms as popping pills
In the US study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, 202 depressed men and women aged 40 and older were divided into four groups; one group did supervised group exercise; one did home exercise; one group took the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft); and the last group took placebo pills.
After four months, the scientists found that patients who did supervised exercise did just as well as those who took medication. People who did exercise at home also got a reduction in symptoms, but not as marked. Importantly, the people who took the placebo got the least benefits.
This is the first time that researchers have shown conclusively that exercise can really help people with severe depression. ‘There is certainly growing evidence that exercise may be a viable alternative to medication, at least among those patients who are receptive to exercise as a potential treatment for their depression’, said study author Dr James A Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Supervised exercise may also be safer, especially those with heart conditions.
No one knows for sure why physical activity helps improve your mood but there is evidence that it affects the levels of mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin. Exercise may also help you sleep better and reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
According to Emer O’Neill, chief executive at Depression Alliance: ‘Exercise raises self esteem and allows you to take control of your recovery. Regular exercise is effective at preventing depression but it is important to know your own limits and only take the exercise that you feel you can manage.’
Depression is a common problem in the UK, and two in three adults will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime. However, an episode of depression serious enough to require treatment occurs in about one in four women and one in 10 men. Symptoms include poor motivation, feelings of worthlessness, sleeping and eating problems, and abnormal sadness, and can become severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities.
* Depression Alliance Tel: 0845 1232320 Web: www.depressionalliance.org
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.