Researchers found that exercise was just as good as therapy and even better than antidepressants.

Exercise should be a “core treatment” for people with depression, academics have said, after a new study suggested that some forms of exercise were just as good as therapy and even better than anti-depressants.

Walking, jogging, yoga and strength training appeared to be more effective than other types of exercises, according to a major new analysis.

And the more vigorous the exercise, the better, according to a research team led by academics in Australia.

But even low intensity exercises such as walking and yoga had meaningful benefit.

The effect of exercise appeared superior to antidepressants, according to the study which has been published in The BMJ.

But when exercise was combined with antidepressants, this improved the effect of the drugs.

  • CashewNut 🏴󠁢󠁥󠁧󠁿@lemmy.worldEnglish
    304·
    9 months ago

    Have you ever tried exercising when depressed? I’m overweight and depressed. I know exercise could make me feel better.

    But how the fuck can I do it? I can barely muster the motivation to shower more than once a fortnight.

    It’s not ignorance. I used to be a runner and know the Ashtanga yoga first series by heart. Also did judo.

    But actually doing anything is way fucking beyond my reach.

    So no. It’s not a panacea.

    It’s just another “smile and you’ll feel happy” comment.

    • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
      133·
      9 months ago

      I think this study suffers from confirmation bias. The people who actually got themselves to do excercise were already intrinsically motivated enough to actually do it. That way you self-select for a positive result.

      I didn’t read the actual study btw, it’s possible they already adjusted the results due to this.

    • AndOfTheSevenSeas@lemmy.worldEnglish
      52·
      9 months ago

      I’m aware that depression causes major lack of motivation, nothing in my comment insinuated the opposite. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be the first avenue for treatment, ahead of medication.

    • Blackhole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      511·
      9 months ago

      Assuming exercise is a valid treatment…

      It’s not just another smile and be happy. You CAN exercise. It’s not impossible, but you’re making a choice not to.

      You want someone to snap their fingers and make you better, apparently. But that’s never going to happen. You can accept/engage with the treatment, or you can continue to be depressed. That’s just reality.