Daily walking could impact depression severity
Increasing daily steps could help relieve depressive symptoms in adults.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open, investigators examined the findings from 33 observational studies involving 96,173 adults across 13 countries. Daily step counts were attained via accelerometer or pedometer devices over a period of 3 to 365 days.
The investigators discovered that those who achieved over 5,000 steps per day experienced fewer depressive symptoms compared with those who achieved less than 5,000 steps per day. They noted that the protective effects of walking were dose dependent. For instance, each 1,000-step increase in daily steps was linked to a 9% reduction in the risk of depression.
The findings indicated that public health strategies including daily step counts could help improve depression risk and symptoms among adults.
Read more: JAMA Network Open
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