Walking 7000 or more steps per day is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and a 31% lower risk for depression than taking fewer steps, a new meta-analysis shows.

"The objective measurement of daily steps may represent an inclusive and comprehensive approach to public health that has the potential to prevent depression. Small amounts of PA [physical activity] may be particularly relevant for specific populations, such as older adults and individuals with limited activities of daily living, for whom daily steps emerge as an accessible PA strategy," the investigators wrote.

The study was led by Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, PhD, Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain. It was published online December 16 in JAMA Network Open.

Reverse associations were possible, and causal inferences could not be made from the findings. In addition, the analysis showed substantial between-study heterogeneity in some pooled estimates, partially explained by differences in participant characteristics and step-counting devices. Most studies also lacked robust methods, potentially affecting result reliability, and the meta-analysis comparing high vs low daily step counts may have been susceptible to publication bias.

The study was funded by the University of Castilla-La Mancha, National Agency for Research and Innovation, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, Carlos III Health Institute, European Regional Development Fund, and European Union's Next Generation EU initiative. No conflicts of interest were reported.