Alumnus George Mammen, B.Kin’06, M.Sc.(Kin)’08, made media history recently at the University of Toronto (U of T) for his article on moderate exercise as not only treating but preventing depression. Mr. Mammen, who played varsity basketball and worked as a research assistant while at Memorial, is currently working on his PhD at U of T.

One day in late October, the website www.media.utoronto.ca received nearly 68,000 page views, 67,000 of which were of Mr. Mammen’s article. According to U of T sources, this makes the article the most viewed entry to the website in its history.

Mr. Mammen’s review, which was published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first longitudinal review to focus exclusively on the role that exercise plays in maintaining good mental health and preventing the onset of depression later in life. He analyzed over 26 years' worth of research findings to discover that even low levels of physical activity (walking and gardening for 20-30 minutes a day) can ward off depression in people of all age groups.

Mr. Mammen says the fact that the article was shared internationally made him very happy.

“Depression is something that everyone can relate to, from personal experience to some degree or to knowing a loved one that has experienced it or is experiencing it. So for those who have never had depression, note that the review showed strong evidence that it can prevent the onset of depression from ever developing.” 

After the review was published, Mr. Mammen conducted about six email-based interviews with different organizations such as Runners World magazine as well as one of Finland’s largest and most read newspaper. But Mr. Mammen said the highlight for him was when a producer from CBS's This Morning America contacted him for more information about the article.

Mr. Mammen is in his third year at U of T, studying exercise science, in the Health and Exercise Psychology Unit.