Exercise 'Better Than Drugs for Depression'
A study by
German researchers says regular exercise could be more effective than drugs
in treating serious depression.
Thirty minutes
of exercise a day significantly improved the moods of patients who were
suffering from long-term depression, The London Telegraph reported this week,
citing researchers from the Freie University in Berlin.
A dozen people
who had suffered depression for nine months were asked to rate their moods
before and after a 10-day exercise program.
Half the patients
were substantially less depressed after the program, while two showed slight
improvement. The rest remained the same.
Fernando Dimeo,
who led the team, told the British Journal of Sports Medicine the findings
were impressive given that anti-depressants normally took between two and
three weeks to work.
Rich people
living in deprived areas are more prone to mental health problems than
those living in affluent regions, according to a study by the Royal Free
Hospital in London.
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