Daily step count is considered the minimum when it comes to fitness. This helps ensure that we are not sedentary. But a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open highlights its surprising benefits, making it much more than just a basic fitness activity. This suggests that increasing the number of steps you take each day can significantly reduce depressive symptoms.
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Surprising benefits of daily steps
The study’s researchers acknowledged the connection between exercise and mental well-being. He called it a kind of ‘natural antidepressant’. But surprisingly, they also found that walking, which is an extremely low-effort activity, contributed to reducing depressive symptoms. The study, led by Estela Jimenez-Lopez of the University of Castile-La Mancha in Spain, examined data from 33 studies involving more than 96,000 adults around the world. They tracked participants’ walking habits and daily steps and linked them to their mental well-being.
Even small steps matter
It doesn’t take a high number of daily steps to have an impact on mental health. Even a small increase in the number of steps taken per day can help reduce the chance of developing depression. People who walked just 1,000 extra steps a day had a 9% lower chance of developing depression than those who walked 5,000 steps or fewer. As step count increased, the benefits for mental health became stronger. Walking 7,000 steps per day reduced the risk of depression by 31%, and walking 7,500 steps per day reduced the risk by 43%. This result applies universally to all age groups.
But it seems that this benefit is limited to a particular stage, because after that the benefits stop and remain more or less the same. The study found that although taking more steps improves mental health, the benefits stop increasing after a certain point. The greatest decline in depression was seen at approximately 10,000 steps per day. After that there was no further improvement by walking more.
In addition to walking, the researchers also recommended physical activities like aerobics, weight training, yoga, and even tai chi, which may also help with depression.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
