title: Effects of a six-month walking intervention on depression in inactive post-menopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory EA4556 Epsylon , Montpellier 1 University , Montpellier , France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ninot
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Picot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaussent
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tallon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blain
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010555:Personality Inventory; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology
keywords: depressive disorders; exercise; physical activity; post-menopausal women; predictors; walking