Effects of a six-month walking intervention on depression in inactive post-menopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: Physical inactivity and advanced age are associated with risk of depressive disorders. Physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms in older subjects with depressive disorders. We investigated whether a walking intervention program may decrease the occurrence of depressive symptoms in inactive post-menopausal women without depression.

Method: A total of 121 participants aged 57–75 years were randomly assigned to a six-month moderate intensity walking intervention (three times a week, 40 minutes per session, supervised and home-based) or to a control group (waiting list). Inactivity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly. Depression levels were measured pre- and post-intervention with the Beck depression inventory (BDI). Several baseline measures were considered as possible predictors of post-intervention BDI score.

Results: Participants in the walking intervention showed a significant decrease in depression as compared with controls. Baseline cognitive-BDI subscore, subjective health status, body mass index and adherence were post-intervention BDI score predictors.

Conclusion: A six-month, three-session per week, moderate intensity walking intervention with a minimal 50% adherence rate reduces depression in post-menopausal women at risk for depression due to physical inactivity. This type of walking intervention could be considered as a widely accessible prevention strategy to prevent depressive symptoms in post-menopausal women at risk of depression.

Keywords:

• post-menopausal women
• walking
• exercise
• depressive disorders
• predictors
• physical activity

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the French Ministry of Health (Projet Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique, 2006, UF-7606); the Montpellier University Hospital (Appel d’Offre Interne, 2007, UF 8189); NOVARTIS Pharma France SAS [grant number 8189].