December 16, 2024

expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis of studies looking at step count and symptoms of depression

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open looks at daily step counts and depression symptoms in adults. 

Dr Brendon Stubbs, NIHR Advanced Fellow, King’s College London (KCL), said:

“This is a well-conducted systematic review that combines data from 33 studies with over 96,000 participants.

“While it shows a clear association between higher step counts and lower depression symptoms, we can’t definitively say that walking more reduces depression, as most studies only looked at one point in time.

“However, the findings align well with existing evidence about physical activity’s benefits for mental health. The encouraging message is that even modest increases in daily steps – such as 1000 extra per day can potentially reduce the risk of future depression by 9%.  We really do however need long term randomised trials to test if this is causal.”

Prof David Curtis, Honorary Professor, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London (UCL), said:

“This study shows that people with more depressive symptoms tend to have lower step counts and vice versa. The authours write, “the objective measurement of daily steps may represent an inclusive and comprehensive approach to public health that has the potential to prevent depression” but this study can’t tell us whether this would prevent depression. It just shows that people who are less depressed walk more but of course that might just be because they’re more cheerful and active. In fact, inactivity is actually listed as a symptom of depression so it’s only to be expected that observational studies would see this association. It may well be that exercise alleviates depression but I’m afraid this study does not provide any evidence that this is the case.”

‘Daily Step Count and Depression in Adults – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’ by Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni et al. will be published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Monday 16^th December, which is when the embargo will lift.

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.51208

Declared interests

Dr Brendon Stubbs: BS is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Ageing Research Reviews, Mental Health and Physical Activity, The Journal of Evidence Based Medicine, and The Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry. Brendon has received honorarium from a co-edited book on exercise and mental illness (Elsevier), an associated education course and unrelated advisory work from ASICS and FitXR LTD.

Prof David Curtis: I have no conflict of interest.