Physical activity should be a core component of psychiatric care

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-03-05 03:00

Australia; International; NSW; VIC; QLD

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Physical activity should be considered a core component of psychiatric care, according to a review by international and Aussie researchers. The team says adults with severe mental illness face a 10- to 20-year reduction in life expectancy, largely due to heightened heart and metabolic diseases, and sedentary lifestyles along with low levels of physical activity. The team argues that adding physical activity to the structural clinical frameworks for mental health professionals could improve symptoms, enhance brain health as well as physical health, and help narrow the life expectancy gap experienced by those with severe mental illness.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Psychiatry

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Deakin University, The University of Queensland, The University of New South Wales, University of Vienna, Austria

Funder: Dr Stubbs is supported by an NIHR Advanced Fellowship (NIHR301206). Dr Teychenne is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellowship (APP1195335).

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