Why a simple walk is now being hailed as a life-saving medical treatment

KEY INFORMATION: 

WHO: Dr Florence Kinnafick from Loughborough University and Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London.

WHAT: A global evidence review published in JAMA Psychiatry calling for exercise to be a formal part of mental health treatment.

WHERE: Loughborough University and King’s College London, with collaborators from 10 international institutions.

WHEN: 11 March 2026.

WHY: To improve physical and mental health outcomes for those with severe mental illness who face high levels of sedentary behaviour.

A new study demands physical activity to become a core component of mental health care to save lives.

Whether you are stuck on a packed train or heading into a stressful shift, we all know a bit of movement helps clear the cobwebs. But for people struggling with serious mental health conditions, a workout is not just a hobby—it is a missing piece of their medicine.

Top scientists at Loughborough University say it is time to stop treating exercise as an optional extra. They want doctors to prescribe sweat sessions just as strictly as they prescribe tablets.

The deadly twenty year gap

The numbers behind this call to action are truly heart-breaking. Adults living with severe mental illness currently die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population.

This is not necessarily because of the mental illness itself. It is because of preventable physical problems like heart disease and diabetes that strike because patients are not moving enough.

Dr Florence Kinnafick, Loughborough University project lead, explained: "People with severe mental illness experience some of the greatest physical health inequalities, largely due to lifestyle factors such as low physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour. Embedding physical activity into routine psychiatric care is the logical and necessary next step."

Ten hours of sitting

The study found that people with schizophrenia spend nearly 10 hours per day sitting still. Even more worrying, fewer than 20 per cent of these patients manage to meet basic activity guidelines.

Those with depression or bipolar disorder are also 30 to 50 per cent less likely to get moving compared to everyone else. This lack of movement is creating a massive health inequality that experts say we must fix now.

As effective as medication

Researchers looked at more than 12,000 participants and the results were massive. They found that structured exercise can actually be comparable to antidepressant medications for some people.

Getting active leads to large reductions in depressive symptoms and even helps with the symptoms of psychosis. It also helps patients think more clearly and gives them a much better quality of life.

Dr Brendon Stubbs from King's College London said: "The evidence is clear, physical activity is a safe, effective and scalable therapy for people with severe mental illness. We would not accept psychiatric treatment that did not offer medication or psychotherapy. It is time to apply the same standard to physical activity as a part of treatment for mental illness."

The 150 minute target

The team says patients should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every single week. This should include two sessions of strength training to keep the heart and body strong.

It does not mean running marathons; simple walking, yoga, or cycling all count. They also suggest swapping passive habits like watching TV for active challenges like puzzles to keep the brain engaged.

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OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from University Newsroom. Document: New paper calls for physical activity to become a core component of mental health care Source Link: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2026/march/physical-activity-mental-health-care/