Exercise Will Not Make You Happy

Even though your morning jog may give you a brief high, don't assume that working out can make you happy in the long-term. A new study suggests that however much exercise you do, it won't help reduce the symptoms of depression. The research, which is published in the British Medical Journal, runs counter to many clinical guidelines that suggest those suffering from mental illness—including depression—should exercise as part of their care regime. But this new study is actually the first large-scale, randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of exercise on depression, with the old advice being based on small, non-clinical samples that really shouldn't hold much sway. The new research studied the effects of physical activity on 361 patients aged 18 to 69 years who had recently been diagnosed with depression. Half the group received psychical activity interventions to complement their usual care, while the other half just received standard treatment. The results show that those who exercised saw absolutely no improvement in their symptoms compared to the control group.
 Oh, well. There's always donuts.