Adults and kids buck depression, anxiety and hyperactivity with exercise


Various studies over the past decade have shown that exercise can be more effective than anti-depressants. One study by Duke University divided 156 depressed patients into three groups: 1) exercise only, 2) exercise and anti-depressants and 3) anti-depressants only. After six months the first group showed the optimal and most stable recovery.

Harvard Medical School, who has been carrying out trials, states that any type of exercise will help, and that using large muscle groups in a rhythmic fashion, for instance walking or jogging works well.

Exercise can also work for children on ADHD (attention deficient hyperactivity disorder) medication, although sudden withdrawal from any medication is not advised and can be dangerous. Kit Karzen was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8, but after years of taking the medication he had enough and began to get into bicycling. He went on to win 15 state and national championships and has now opened a foundation to promote cycling as an alternative to psychoactive medications.

Although promoting exercise instead of drugs sounds obvious, many drug advocates say there is no claim that non-drug remedies are effective. However the number of Americans taking anti-depressants has more than doubled in the last 15 years, with depression being the leading cause of disability in the US for people aged 15-44. If the drugs actually worked, one would think the numbers of depressed people would be decreasing. Psychoactive medications can have dangerous side effects, and can even kill people.

Source: Natural News

More research on exercise

First Published Febuary 2011

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