Exercising can ward off depression

Leisure time physical activity has a protective effect against depression
Leisure time physical activity has a protective effect against depression
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People who exercise regularly are significantly less likely to be depressed, a study has found.

Subjects who were physically active three times a week were 16 per cent less likely to be depressed, researchers from University College London found. They also discovered that the link appeared it could be self-reinforcing, with those who are depressed at a young age less likely subsequently to exercise.

The research, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, used data from a study of 11,000 people born in 1958, who were then followed by social scientists for the subsequent 50 years. The men and women were asked how often they exercised and also assessed for various symptoms linked to depression. The scientists were looking to see if the two correlated