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So I would admit that there is no strong evidence either way. For these types of issues, you can always find studies that contradict one another. Nonetheless
by chubot 12y ago
So I would admit that there is no strong evidence either way. For these types of issues, you can always find studies that contradict one another.
Nonetheless the sheer magnitude of the issue is a signal that something widespread is going on. This page says 40 million US adults are affected, or 18% of the population. I've heard similar statistics before.
http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
This article is saying that exercise helps ADHD, which is another increasingly diagnosed mental disorder.
That doesn't prove sedentary lifestyles are the cause, but the evidence seems consistent with that hypothesis.
Yes, it's a vague hunch. I'm just saying it seems credible. I don't think it's very controversial that if you go to a psychiatrist for depression, they will ask how much you exercise, and if you don't, they will recommend it. They don't really have proof that it will help. But they will tell you that. It's the best they can do.
Whether antidepressants or ADHD drugs help is also of some controversy as well, I believe. Certainly they do in many cases, but not in all cases.
There's certainly nothing WRONG with exercise for a typical sedentary person, while there are known side effects to medication. And that doesn't mean they are exclusive -- medication + exercise may be the best solution for many people.
- DanBC 12y ago> For these types of issues, you can always find studies that contradict one another. The cochrane collaboration perform meta analysis, so they have included the the research papers that say "exercise is a treatment for depression". Your casual dismissal of a well-respected organisation is odd. > Yes, it's a vague hunch. I'm just saying it seems credible. I don't think it's very controversial that if you go to a psychiatrist for depression, they will ask how much you exercise, and if you don't, they will recommend it. They don't really have proof that it will help. But they will tell you that. It's the best they can do. I've just shown you strong evidence that it's not "the best they can do". They recommend exercise because many mental health meds list weight gain and increased appetite as side effects; and because they're doctors and so they recommend exercise to everyone. > There's certainly nothing WRONG with exercise for a typical sedentary person, while there are known side effects to medication. And that doesn't mean they are exclusive -- medication + exercise may be the best solution for many people. You've worded this to suggest there's nothing wrong with exercise alone as a treatment for depression. That is wrong. Depression can be a fatal illness. 12 men per day die to suicide in the UK. It is important to get appropriate treatment.