Sydney, Mar 23 (IANS): If you have a habit of exercising daily then you should not stop it as it may increase the symptoms of depression, according to a new study.

"An extensive body of clinical evidence shows that regular exercise can reduce and treat depression. However, there is limited research into what happens with depressive symptoms when exercise is stopped," said co-author Julie Morgan from the University of Adelaide.

"Adequate physical activity and exercise are important for both physical and mental health," Morgan noted.

For the study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers investigated the cessation of exercise in 152 adults.

The adults had each undertaken at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week, for a minimum of three months.

"In some cases, ceasing this amount of exercise induced significant increases in depressive symptoms after just three days," said co-author Bernhard Baune, Professor at the University of Adelaide.

"Other studies showed that people's depressive symptoms increased after the first one or two weeks, which is still quite soon after stopping their exercise," Baune added.

The researchers noted that the depressive symptoms arising from stopping exercise occurred in the absence of the typical biological markers commonly involved with depressive symptoms.

Depressive symptoms were significantly higher in female participants than in male participants.

"For now, it is important that people understand the potential impact on their mental well-being when they suddenly cease regular exercise," Baune said.

A previous study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, showed that people of all ages can gain mental health benefits from even small amounts of exercise.