Dr Pam Popper on Exercise for Depression
Exercise vs Drugs for Depression Pam Poppe r, President Wellness Forum Health According to a new study, running works just as well for relieving depression and anxiety as drugs. Researchers partially randomized 141 patients with depression or anxiety disorder to either an antidepressant (Lexapro or Zoloft) or group-based running therapy two to three times per week for 16 weeks. Mental health, symptom severity and physical health were evaluated at baseline and then at the end of the 16-week period. Forty-five of the patients took meds, and 96 underwent running therapy. The reason for the difference in the size of the groups is that most of the patients did not want to be randomized and preferred to be part of the running group. Running resulted in a small but statistically insignificant greater remission rate than drugs. But there were much greater differences in other markers of health. Runners fared better on weight loss, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood ...