Exercise Doesn't Treat Depression, Says New Study

[Julieanne]

Please read beyond the headline; a flawed study.

Kristina Chew (http://www.care2.com/causes/author/autismvox)
June 6, 2012

A number of studies (http://www.care2.com/causes/can-exercise-treat-depression.html) have found that exercise can have positive benefits for those struggling with depression — but a new study in the British Medical Journal (http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2758) (BMJ) has found that, combined with conventional treatments including medication and therapy, it does not.
The result was acknowledged to be disappointing by the researchers themselves; they noted that many patients with depression would prefer not to take anti-depressants.
BMJ Study: “Facilitated physical activity as a treatment for depressed adults: randomised controlled trial”

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/exercise-doesnt-treat-depression-says-new-study.html#ixzz1xC51e3AN

[Islander]

I hardly know where to begin. Like the study in which the subjects were people who were shown pictures of fresh organic foods, rather than people eating an actual organic diet, the subjects here received counseling about exercise; there is no evidence that they actually increased their physical activity. There was no attempt, as far as I can see, to actually measure, clock or document in any way, the degree of exercise the subjects engaged in with the intent of alleviating depression.

the conclusion — "The addition of a facilitated physical activity intervention to usual care did not improve depression outcome or reduce use of antidepressants compared with usual care alone." — might be rephrased as, "Encouraging depressed people to increase their level of physical activity was a failed strategy." I'd say it's akin to telling a patient, "You really ought to lose weight."

One of the study’s researchers says, "...it’s not good for treating people with what was actually quite severe depression." We already knew this. And since, as they say at the outset, several existing studies DO prove the benefits of exercise in mild to moderate depression, I have to question who actually spent money on this totally useless waste of time.

Actual BMJ article here (http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2758).

[mellowsong]

Absolute insanity!

[Pattypans]

Also--a little off the exact subject--but I'll bet that exercising outside in the fresh air and sunshine (or even just natural daylight if it's cloudy) would have a far greater effect on depression that exercising indoors under artificial lighting. There are studies that show that contact with nature improves health and well-being in a variety of ways. http://www.naturalhealthstrategies.com/nature-improves-health.html

[Maurya]

It is legendary to the point of being cliche that one's perceived exertion has very little to do with one's actual maximum effort when exercising. Even if these people did some token bit of exercise after their "counseling", nothing was done to measure the effort or the results in terms of increasing strength or any other sensible measure. Agreed, this was BS.

[Julieanne]

I didn't post this because I agreed with it! Thanks for adding the comment Islander.

[Islander]

Julieanne, I hope you're aware that I often post erroneous studies just so that we can jump on it and point out the errors. I appreciate your posting this because it gave us a chance to debunk it!

[Reesacat]

Julieanne, we know you and your commitment to a healthy lifestyle and love of the outdoors and gardening and fresh air! I never thought you would agree with this study:).

[Aaltrude]

Julieanne, I hope you're aware that I often post erroneous studies just so that we can jump on it and point out the errors. I appreciate your posting this because it gave us a chance to debunk it!
I did exactly this a little while ago with an article about fats and 'I' was publicly jumped on, not the article as I had intended.
I also posted an article by Sayer Ji about contrails which was deleted and a private communication was sent to me that this topic was out of bounds. A few weeks later mellowsong posts exactly the same article and it is allowed to stay with comments conceding that perhaps there might be something to it after all.
JUST SAYING.

[Reesacat]

I don't remember the fats article -- was it on HH? If I messed up, Aaltrude please accept my apology! I do have brain farts....

[Islander]

Aaltrude, I don't remember the article on fats not do I ever remember a personal attack. If that happened here, I'm sorry, because ad hominem attacks are never acceptable.

I DID post an explanatory note about chemtrails. You all know how I feel about conspiracy theories, and for the longest time I was in denial about chemtrails...until the preponderance of evidence from reliable sources convinced me that geoengineering was in fact occurring. If I were running for political office, that would be called flip-flopping. I prefer to think I have an open mind that is willing to change when presented with new information. Aaltrude, I can understand how you would see that as a personal affront but believe me, it was never about you. I hope you can simply take it as evidence that I'm extremely careful about the accuracy of information posted here!

[Reesacat]

Would it make sense to put in red at the beginning of an article that you don't agree with a disclaimer.
I did that with one I posted a few days ago:
http://www.hawkeshealth.net/community/showthread.php?t=10281&p=47585#post47585
How To Make (Organic) Popcorn A Health Food

I almost didn't post this — Dr. Rowen does not tell you to eat organic popcorn if you eat popcorn; but with GMO corn everywhere in the US it is essential to eat only organic corn or popcorn. If you have gluten sensitivity do not eat corn as it is very high in corn gluten which reacts like wheat gluten for us.

[Islander]

I think that's a wise idea, Reesacat. I've done it in the past (though not consistently — sometimes I put in a comment after the article's posted). Yes, let's plan to post an alert or disclaimer in italics, in red or maroon, above the author & date, when you think the item you're posting is bogus...and invite comments.