The report examined 40 studies. Average age of participants, 50; 59 percent were women, and on average they worked out three times a week for 42 minutes at a time over a 16-week period. Anxiety symptoms were reduced by 20 percent for those who exercised. That’s especially significant, the report found, because people who are stressed are less likely to follow a prescribed treatment regimen. Read more here.

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Alas, if you want something to be anxious about, try cutting back on your current exercise program. As I was researching Tuesday’s post about exercising more and more and more, I came across another study resulting from the 19-year-long National Runner’s Health Study. This study found that if you exercise and decide to cut back — over the winter, say — that any weight you gain as a result may be more difficult to lose than weight you already had. The phenomenon is particularly problematic for men who run less than 20 miles a week, then take a break, and women who run less than 10 miles a week.

Probably not what you wanted to hear as a colder-than-usual winter comes to a close and you’re contemplating getting active again.

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