« 'Letting Barabas go scot-free' | Main | Anti-Emergent Humor »
July 25, 2007
Mind and Body
Struggling with depression? Try getting some exercise.
While an apple a day may (or may not) keep the doctor away, a growing body of research indicates that exercise may keep the psychologist away. Alessandra Pilu of the University of Cagliari in Italy and other investigators reported their conclusions in the online journal of Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health.
"The study found that depressed women who started a supervised exercise regimen had significant improvements in their symptoms over the next 8 months. Those who didn't exercise showed only marginal improvements.
"Before the study, all of the women had tried taking antidepressant medication for at least two months but had failed to improve.
"A number of studies have found that physically active people are less likely than couch potatoes to suffer depression. Some clinical trials have shown regular exercise can help treat the disorder, and perhaps be as effective as antidepressant drugs in some cases.
"The new findings suggest that exercise can even help people whose symptoms have been resistant to medication, according to the study authors."
Since an estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, high rates of mental illness shouldn't surprise us. Mental illness is not just mental. We are integrated, living souls, and approaches must be holistic, treating mind, body, and spirit.
Perhaps being overweight is a largely unexplored factor in the epidemic of depression afflicting children and teens in the United States. Observers say that about 5 percent of adolescents suffer from clinical depression, and suicide is said to be the third-leading cause of death among teenagers.
Combine those figures with statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the number of overweight children has tripled in just 30 years, with 12.5 million teens considered overweight, and you'll see how significant the problem is. No wonder the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a $324 million ad campaign aimed at stopping obesity.
So if you're feeling down, depressed, or blue, turn off the TV, computer, or video game, get off the couch, and take a hike. Exercise will not solve all your problems, of course (and you may need to check with your doctor first). But for a healthier and happier you, it may be a great place place to start.
Hat tip: Christine Guthrie
Comments
This is absolutely true, something I learned for myself over the last ten years.
Also drinking lots of water.
I do those two things and almost always my creeping depression begings to lift.
Well, and try to get some sunshine too. But that's a lot harder to do in certain parts of the country.
Posted By: PaddyO | July 25, 2007 10:55 AM
Are we doing correlational research again?
One more time, correlation does not equal causation. Causation may be reversed: The couch potatoes may be couch potatoes because they are depressed. And both factors may be caused by an outside factor: Persons who are not depressed are more able to exercise because of physical, biochemical, situational, social, or psychological variables
My own observation is that a whole lot more than 5% of all teenagers are clinically depressed, which may be as likely biochemical as other. Who were the "observers?" And the fact of childhood obesity may have nothing to do with teenage depression, but could be food additives.
If in fact suicide is now the third highest cause of death for teenagers, that's good news--because at one time it was #1.
Posted By: Barb W | July 25, 2007 12:09 PM
I have to agree with part of this study. I have clinical depression, and I take anti-depressants, but I notice a big difference when I stick with exercising as opposed to when I fall off. Paddy is right with drinking lots of water and getting outside. I also find I do much better when I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
I also have to agree with Barb that you can't connect depression and obesity like you have. My sister is very active but always has a problem with her weight. I have fought depression for years and gone through month long periods of being a couch potato, and I have never come close to being overweight let alone obese. Weight can be genetic just as depression can be from a chemical imbalance like mine is. But exercise helps your brain make the chemicals it needs (mainly seratonin) that enables a person to have an optimistic and balanced outlook on life. When your brain doesn't make those chemicals on its own, it's like Barb says, the depression fuels the inactivity because you're so tired all of the time. I need both the anti-depressants and taking care of myself to be mentally healthy.
Posted By: Shawna R. B. Atteberry | July 25, 2007 3:36 PM
mdnol pzmdtovn wrsfn itzbxs pgnyzs gejnu fugdtia
Posted By: nfdlhasxz ofwzcqa | December 4, 2007 2:15 AM
lvgdqt fyud cxora apmnfd glydwjcn kpdxijq pmaoxc http://www.mwdk.akvepmc.com
Posted By: hjvpcn rsmfuzdha | December 4, 2007 2:16 AM
I can't help but giggle when People say anything that involves percentages. Percentages take away people's faces and spirits. To say what is the #1 or #2 means that in order to solve it, the number may be addressed, and not the individual. Christ is the type of savior that pleads with us that we know him and how complete his desire is to be with us. Like someone drunk with love. I find that in my depression, the most important thing to achieve is balance. And it is when mind, body and soul are in balance that I find my greatest peace.
Posted By: gliderbuff | April 27, 2008 11:58 PM