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Foman is my favorite moderator. <3
Posted by: BANZAl
Posted by: A Good Troll
Sure - depression can cause issues because people who are depressed are generally lethargic and unmotivated.
But exercise has been shown to boost happiness and combat depression. Seems like a prescription for exercise would hit two birds with one stone - the excess weight and the depression itself.
You're right it would be, but its very hard to get past the wall of depression- sure enough if someone with depression and weight issues begins exercising and sees a change then they will be happier and it will result in a more positive run of the cycle they are trapped in. However no results from exercising can be disheartening- to the extent that it can wind up making the person more depressed.
I suppose it has more to do with will power and motivation then it does a capacity for exercise.
And by doing so, the person would be doing something against the orders of a doctor and against their own health.
Let me take this a step further and maybe make you think a bit. If a person is prescribed a medication for a disease, and he/she refuses to take that medication, should the NHS taxpayer foot the bill?
Say a diabetic refuses doctor's orders to take insulin and regularly comes to the hospital in diabetic shocks. Should the taxpayer pay for that patient's refusal, or should it come from that person's own pocket?
It is much easier to find fault with the above and want to penalize the person IMO - and I think what this report is trying to do is make people think of exercise as a medication, not a lifestyle choice.
[Edited on 01.03.2013 7:58 AM PST]