Running may have similar benefits as antidepressants

DEAR DOCTORS: I started taking meds for depression. When I let my doctor know at my last visit, he told me about a study that says running also helps with depression symptoms. Do you know anything about that? Maybe if I try running, I can stop taking these meds.

- DR EVE GLAZIER & DR ELIZABETH KO

DEAR READER: A body of research has established that a regular running programme can have a beneficial effect on the symptoms of depression. With that in mind, researchers in Amsterdam devised a study to shed light on whether the mental health benefits of running might be comparable to those of antidepressant medications. The findings of the study, which were published two years ago in the Journal Of Affective Disorders, suggest that the answer is a qualified yes.