The researchers compared the effects of medicine and physical activity; see the result
Several studies have already highlighted the benefits of regular physical activity in the prevention and treatment of depressive and anxious symptoms.
But recent research goes further and suggests that frequent light running has effects comparable to taking antidepressants. The work was presented at the Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, held this month in Barcelona, Spain.
The researchers found that the program still led to an improvement in the participants’ physical condition, despite the fact that maintaining regular activity was a challenge for them.
Running x antidepressants
The team followed 141 people with depression, anxiety or both. Participants could choose whether to follow the treatment with drugs alone (without running) or with running therapy (without drugs).
Over the course of 16 weeks, 45 people were treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is a class of antidepressant, and 96 followed a running program.
Participants in the drug group received escitalopram at a starting dose of 10 milligrams per day. The symptoms were managed by a psychiatrist, who could decide whether the dose needed to be increased. If escitalopram was deemed ineffective or poorly tolerated, the drug was replaced with sertraline, another widely used antidepressant.
Running therapy consisted of 45-minute supervised light outdoor running sessions for two to three sessions per week, consistent with public health recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Comparable effects
At the end of the study, about 44% in each group showed remission of depression and anxiety symptoms, but the authors noted that symptoms were still “considerable.”
When it comes to physical health, however, the changes were more favorable among runners, who noted decreased heart rate, blood pressure, waist circumference, and increased lung function.
On the other hand, the group that used antidepressants showed signs of physical decline, with weight gain, higher blood pressure and triglycerides, and lower heart rate variability (a sign of lower resilience).
Changing your lifestyle is essential
The research team highlighted that exercise directly addresses the sedentary lifestyle that is quite common in people with depressive and anxiety disorders. Not only does going out to exercise outdoors bring benefits, but so does the contact with other people and the experience of achieving personal goals.
However, while maintaining an exercise program can be a challenge for many people, the task can be even more difficult for those suffering from mental health problems. Only 52% in the runner group adhered to the protocol, while 82% in the drug group were able to maintain their treatment regimen. In other words, it is much easier to take a drug than to change someone’s behavior.
For the study’s lead author, Brenda Penninx, professor of psychiatry at Vrije University in Amsterdam, regular running can reduce depressive symptoms in at least some people who suffer from depression. “The mental health effects were quite comparable to those seen in the antidepressant group,” she said.
It doesn’t have to be just running
He admits that, for most people, an exercise program may not replace medication, but rather be offered as an additional treatment option, to be administered in a well-guided and supervised manner by trained professionals. Even more so for more serious depression.
The researcher also adds that running may not be for everyone, and depressed people can get similar benefits from other activities they enjoy, such as cycling, swimming or sports such as football or tennis.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
