Psychosis is linked with low levels of physical activity
A study has recently revealed that people with psychosis engage in low levels of physical activity. The study of more than 200,000 people in nearly 50 countries also said that men with psychosis are over two times more likely to miss global activity targets compared to people without the illness, reports ANI.
The research, led by King's College London and the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust, also offers important insights into the barriers that prevent people with psychosis from engaging in regular physical activity.
This data will inform interventions aimed at helping people with psychosis to be more active and ultimately, to improve their mental and physical health. People with psychosis die up to 15 years before the general population, largely due to cardiovascular disease.
To stay healthy, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults aged 18-64 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, including walking, cycling, household chores or sport. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of avoidable death and is as harmful as smoking, according to the WHO.
In their study the researchers collected data from the World Health Survey, which comprises more than 200,000 people aged 18-64 from nearly 50 low-and-middle-income countries. These individuals, who were living in their local communities at the time of the study, were divided into three groups: people with a diagnosis of psychosis, those with psychotic symptoms but no diagnosis and a control group (of people with no diagnosis of psychosis and no symptoms in the past 12 months).