Toronto: Walking in a happy or sad style actually affects our mood, scientists have found.

It is known that our mood can affect how we walk – slump-shouldered if we are sad, bouncing along if we are happy. Researchers have now shown that it works the other way too.

Subjects who were prompted to walk in a more depressed style, with less arm movement and their shoulders rolled forward, experienced worse moods than those who were induced to walk in a happier style, the study found.