Depression is a very common and serious health problem in the United States. This is verified by the fact that the medication that is most prescribed in the U.S. is an anti-depressant. The National Institutes of Health sponsored a study by Duke University to study the effects of regular exercise on depression. Their first study was on a group of people with clinical depression. Half were randomly assigned to normal medical therapy and medication for depression. The other half were assigned to a regular physical activity program. After 16 weeks, both groups were evaluated. The exercisers improved just as much as those receiving medication. In addition, the exercisers saw improvements in mental function that those on medication didn’t experience.Next ,researchers wanted to see if staying active for a longer period of time would help reduce the chance of the depression returning. This new study followed the same exercising patients for an additional 6 months of regular exercise. At the end of the 6 months, only 8% of the exercisers d a return of depression while %38 of those taking medication had depression return. The continued exercise greatly reduced the chance of the depression returning.” (Making Healthy Choice Newsletter, October-November 2008) So for better mental health, get moving.