Your Mom was right …more physical play means better health

December 12, 2011

Welcome to my new blog. I look forward to adding new interesting posts in the coming weeks and months. Enjoy !!!

There is some new scientific evidence that appropriate exercise helps to decrease depression and increase a healthier, more positive attitude towards life. In her recent article in the December 2011 issue of Monitor on Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, Kristen Weir wrote about Dr. J. Blumenthal, a clinical psychologist at Duke University. She described his interesting research as he investigates the concept that depressed people are less physically active, as well as the reverse….that non-depressed people are more physically active. He examined the relationship between appropriate physical activity and depression.

Another psychologist, Dr. deGroot, who is with the Department of Medicine at Indiana University studied the same issue in even greater detail. She examined depressed individuals that also had diabetes. She believes that diabetes and depression were often “linked” and she is examining the theory that increased physical activity would be a helpful addition to an appropriate treatment program.

The general theme of the article is that psychologists should always consider the level of physical activity of an individual, as well as any psychological issues operating.

So, like your mom may have said to you as a child “Go outside and play!!!!”  This recent group of scientific studies may mean that she was more correct than you can imagine.