Simple habit named that reduces depression risk by one third

An international team of researchers from prestigious universities in Spain and South America has made a breakthrough in understanding the connection between physical activity and mental health. According to the new study, just 7,000 steps per day can reduce the risk of depression by an impressive 31%. The results of this large-scale study were published in the authoritative journal JAMA.

The impressive results were obtained through a meta-analysis covering 33 previous studies involving 96,000 volunteers. Scientists used modern wearable devices to accurately track participants' physical activity.

The study revealed a dual effect of walking: it works for both prevention and treatment of depression. Participants diagnosed with depression noted significant improvement in their condition when reaching 5,000 steps daily, while the optimal therapeutic effect was observed at 7,500 steps.

A particularly important discovery was the direct correlation between the number of steps and protection against future depression. Each additional thousand steps reduced the risk of developing depression by 9%. Maximum mental health protection was observed in people who walk 10,000 steps per day.