Dancing may be as effective as antidepressants in treating depression, according to a new study.

Australian researchers say aerobic exercise such as jogging, swimming and dancing have the most significant impact on symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Even light exercise, such as walking, can bring about significant improvements in symptoms.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, scientists from James Cook University in Queensland wrote that exercise “should be recommended with the same confidence as conventional treatment.”

They added that exercise should be included in public health policies as a simple, effective and scientifically proven first-line intervention for mental health (especially for young adults and women going through the postpartum period), where its effects have been seen to be strongest.

Almost one in six people in the UK suffer from depression, with women at almost twice the risk of developing the mental disorder than men.