Mild exercises can alleviate symptoms of depression

A new study conducted by Scottish researchers suggests that mild exercises like walking play an important role in fighting depression. Researchers at the University of Stirling studied 341 patients with prescribed exercise conditions and found that "walking was an effective intervention for depression" and alleviated its symptoms. "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," said Professor Adrian Taylor. The power of walking as a stress-reliever and mood enhancer is often underestimated. The research team stressed that more study needs to be done to find out how long and how fast should one walk to fight depression and whether walking should take place indoors or outdoors. Some other researchers suggest, "exercising with others can have even greater impact, as it provides an opportunity to strengthen social networks.” Almost one in 10 people experience depression at some point in their lives that can be treated with drugs. Exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild depression symptoms.