Depression and Exercise

Experts tout benefits of exercise for people taking antidepressants.
USA Today (4/26) reports, "Most people seeking treatment for depression or anxiety face two choices: medication or psychotherapy. But there's a third choice that is rarely prescribed, though it comes with few side effects, low costs and a list of added benefits, advocates say." That third option is exercise. Psychologist Jasper Smits says, "It's become clear that this is a good intervention, particularly for mild to moderate depression." And, psychiatrist Michelle Riba, of the University of Michigan, "prescribes exercise to depressed patients as part of a long-term plan for healthier living that includes sleep, eating and, in many cases, weight loss. Exercise can be especially important, she says, for patients taking antidepressant medications that cause weight gain."