ABSTRACT
More than one in five people will experience a mental disorder at some point throughout their lifetime. Mental disorders are strongly associated with poor physical health including preventable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Low participation in physical activity, including sport and exercise, and poor cardiorespiratory fitness are modifiable risk factors that can impact both physical and mental health. This chapter will outline the evidence for physical activity as an integrated component of both promoting mental wellbeing among the healthy population, and as a component of treatment among people experiencing mental illness.
