A new global review of data has found that increasing daily step levels can reduce depressive symptoms. Researchers analyzed data from over 96,000 adults worldwide and discovered a significant association between higher step counts and lower odds for depression.
According to the study published in JAMA Network Open, taking just 1,000 more steps per day compared to 5,000 was linked to a 9% drop in depressive symptoms. The benefits continued with even more steps: those who walked 7,000 steps per day had a 31% lower odds for depression, while counts above 7,500 steps per day were associated with a 43% lower prevalence of depression.
The researchers found that the mental health benefits persisted across age groups and genders. However, at around 10,000 steps per day, there seemed to be a leveling off of these benefits. The study suggests that setting daily step goals may be a promising public health strategy for preventing depression.
This latest finding adds walking to other forms of physical activity as ways to help manage depression. As the American Heart Association notes, regular walking has numerous health benefits and can be an effective way to reduce depressive symptoms.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-depression-daily-mental-health.html