Feeling
tired? A walk may be better than a
nap for boosting energy and fighting
fatigue.
New research suggests regular
exercise can increase energy levels
even among people suffering from
chronic medical conditions
associated with fatigue, like cancer
and heart disease.
 It may seem counterintuitive, but
researchers say expending energy by
engaging in regular exercise may pay
off with increased energy in the
long run.
"A lot of times when people are
fatigued, the last thing they want
to do is exercise," says researcher
Patrick O'Connor, PhD, in a news
release. "But if you're physically
inactive and fatigued, being just a
bit more active will help," says
O'Connor, co-director of the
University of Georgia exercise
psychology laboratory, in Athens,
Ga.
"We live in a society where people
are always looking for the next
sports drink, energy bar, or cup of
coffee that will give them the extra
edge to get through the day," says
researcher Tim Puetz, PhD, also of
UGA. "But it may be that lacing up
your tennis shoes and getting out
and doing some physical activity
every morning can provide that spark
of energy that people are looking
for."
Exercise Boosts Energy
Although many studies have shown
that sedentary people who start a
regular exercise program experience
an increase in energy levels,
researchers say few studies have
quantified those effects.
In this study, published in
Psychological Bulletin, the
researchers analyzed 70 studies on
exercise and fatigue involving more
than 6,800 people.
"More than 90% of the studies showed
the same thing: Sedentary people who
completed a regular exercise program
reported improved fatigue compared
to groups that did not exercise,"
says O'Connor. "It's a very
consistent effect."
The results show that regular
exercise increases energy and
reduces fatigue.
The average effect was greater than
the improvement from using stimulant
medications, including ones used for
attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
Researchers say nearly every group
studied -- from healthy adults, to
cancer patients, and those with
chronic conditions including
diabetes and heart disease --
benefited from exercise.
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