A recent study shows you don’t need to hit 10,000 steps a day to ward off depression.
Scientists recently discovered the exact number of steps to prevent depression.
On this day, a research team from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain announced the results of a study that found that walking more than 5,000 steps a day can lower the risk of depression through the JAMA Network Open published on December 2, 2024.
The research team meta-analyzed 33 studies involving more than 96,000 adults worldwide, including fitness tracker enthusiasts.
The study found that, compared to the 5,000-step baseline, every extra 1,000 steps cut depression risk by 9%. Those who walked 7,000 steps had a 31% lower risk than the under-5,000 crowd.
Taking 7,500 steps daily lowered depression rates by a staggering 43%. However, those who took 10,000 steps daily showed no significant difference in the benefits they could gain.
We all know exercise is a mood-booster, but walking takes the cake for being both easy and effective in keeping depression at bay.
Other studies suggest that 4,000 steps a day could help you live longer from all the causes of death.
For the 60-year-old and older, 6,000 steps could halve the risk of early death. But don’t go overboard – there’s no extra perk after 8,000.
One of the researchers stated that walking more than 10,000 steps a day does not significantly reduce symptoms of depression. Experts interpreted this to suggest that walking about 7,000 steps daily is appropriate.
The team suggests mixing walking with fun activities like aerobics, pumping iron, yoga, or taekwondo. Setting a daily step goal could be your strategy for a happier, healthier you.
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