A recent meta-analysis of 33 studies involving over 96,000 adults found that walking 5,000 or more steps daily is linked to fewer depressive symptoms. This underscores the protective effects of physical activity against depression, particularly highlighting that even light-intensity exercise like walking can make a difference. The analysis reveals a concerning trend: women are less active than men and face barriers such as time, motivation, and energy, which exacerbate their risk for depression. Mental health professionals are encouraged to incorporate exercise prescriptions alongside traditional treatments for depression.
Walking 5,000 or more steps a day is linked to fewer depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of physical activity in managing mental health.
The study found that women are less likely to meet activity recommendations compared to men, facing various barriers to exercise.
Increased physical activity levels can provide protection against clinical depression, supporting the notion of exercise as part of treatment.
Barriers to physical activity in women include lack of time, motivation, and energy, contributing to their higher risk for depressive symptoms.
Collection
[
|
...
]