Running found to be as effective as medication in treating depression, study finds
In a recent study, scientists have discovered that running can be just as effective in treating depression as taking medication. The findings of the study also revealed that there are greater benefits to physical activity compared to antidepressants.
Despite the benefits of running, the researchers found that people tend to opt for medication instead. After analyzing data from 140 patients, it was revealed that running and medication provided equal benefits in treating depression. However, running was found to improve overall health, while antidepressants had adverse effects on the body over time.
Interestingly, the study also found that participants who chose to take antidepressants were slightly more depressed than those who chose running. Dr. Penninx, one of the researchers, stated, “This study gave anxious and depressed people a real-life choice, medication or exercise. Interestingly, the majority opted for exercise, which led to the numbers in the running group being larger than in the medication group.”
For individuals on medication, healthcare professionals recommend timely intake to minimize impact on daily behaviors. On the other hand, running or exercise was found to address the issue of a sedentary routine often seen in depressed patients. It encourages individuals to go outside, set personal goals, improve their fitness, and participate in group activities.
However, the study also revealed that fewer people actually stuck to the physical activity routine compared to those in the antidepressant group, despite initially choosing running over medication. In the end, both groups showed improvement in depression and anxiety for half of the participants. The running group also reported improvement in physical health.
Furthermore, the study found that participants in the medication group experienced slight adverse effects on metabolic markers. Dr. Penninx explained, “Antidepressants generally had a worse impact on body weight, heart rate variability, and blood pressure, whereas running therapy led to improved effects on general fitness and heart rate, for instance.”
The researchers emphasized that simply telling patients to go for a run is not enough. Changing physical activity behavior will require adequate supervision and encouragement. Dr. Penninx added, “Changing physical activity behavior will require adequate supervision and encouragement, as we did by implementing exercise therapy in a mental health care institution.”
This study highlights the importance of physical activity, particularly running, in the treatment of depression. It suggests that exercise can provide equal benefits to medication, while also improving overall health and reducing the potential adverse effects associated with antidepressants.