Want to boost your mental health? Take a walk. It’s a message that bears repeating: Even moderate amounts of exercise can help ward off depression.
According to a 2022 meta-analysis, reported by the American Psychological Association:
> 1 in 9 cases of depression could potentially be prevented if all adults did just 150 minutes of physical activity per week, the minimal amount recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
> There was a 25% lower risk of depression among adults who got the recommended amount of physical activity per week – about 2.5 hours of brisk walking.
> There was a 18% lower risk of depression among adults who got just half the recommended amount of physical activity per week – the equivalent of about 75 minutes of brisk walking.