Walking could be a useful tool in treating depression

Walking can play a vital role in fighting depression, a study has claimed.

The study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a “large effect” on depression.

Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear. One in 10 people may have depression at some point in their lives. The condition can be treated with drugs, but exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild symptoms.

Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise, walking. They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill.

The report’s authors showed “walking was an effective intervention for depression” and had an effect similar to other more vigorous forms of exercise.

“Walking has the advantages of being easily undertaken by most people, incurring little or no financial cost and being relatively easy to incorporate into daily living,” they said.

However, they cautioned that much more research needed to be done. There are still questions over how long, how fast and whether walking should take place indoors or outdoors.

Prof. Adrian Taylor, who studies the effects of exercise on depression, addiction and stress at the University of Exeter, told the BBC : “The beauty of walking is that everybody does it.”

“There are benefits for a mental health condition like depression,” he added.

Mr. Taylor said there were ideas about exercise being a distraction from worries, giving a sense of control and releasing “feel-good” hormones.