Step Up Your Mood: Study Links Daily Walks to Lower Depression Risk
New research suggests that a simple daily walk could be a powerful weapon in teh fight against depression. A recent meta-analysis, examining data from over 96,000 adults, found a strong correlation between daily step count and a reduced risk of depressive symptoms.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Castille-La Mancha in Spain, revealed that individuals who walked 5,000 steps or more per day experienced a lower risk of depression. The benefits became even more pronounced at 7,000 steps, with a 31% reduction in risk. Interestingly, each additional 1,000 steps further decreased the risk by 9%, even though this effect seemed to plateau beyond 10,000 steps.
While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play, experts believe several factors contribute to walking’s mood-boosting effects.
“Walking stimulates the release of endorphins, those feel-good hormones that …