More GPs Prescribing Exercise For Depression

These people must be crazy and/or liars.

I am all for more physical activity, but these anti-depression people are nuts.

"A leading UK charity has published the results of a survey that shows the number of GPs prescribing exercise as a treatment for depression has gone up in the last three years.

The Mental Health Foundation announced to the press...that it found 22 per cent of GPs now prescribe exercise as one of the three preferred treatments for depression. Three years ago this figure was only 5 per cent."

The real question is, "Is it making a difference?"

The clear inference is "No."

Here is the excuse:

"Unfortunately, although there appears to be a significant rise in interest among patients and their doctors in using this approach, there are not enough facilities to allow all doctors who would like to make exercise therapy referrals to take advantage of them, said the charity. More than half of GPs do not have access to an exercise referral scheme, and yet of these, 66 per cent said they would use one if it were available.

The GPs said they were also noticing an increase in patients' interest in exercise therapy as way to treat depression. 16 per cent of the GPs in the survey said they had patients asking about it.

McCulloch expressed the charity's frustration with the lack of facilities:

'There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription so that it is accessible alongside antidepressant medication and psychological therapies.'"

One can "exercise" in a mall, at home, Big Box store, etc.

That these depressed people need special facilities puts the lie to:

"Chairman of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Steve Field, told the BBC that GPs were increasingly aware of the benefits of exercise for mental illness. There is more evidence that it works, and:

'The overarching feedback from patients is incredibly positive,' he said."

Lies.