A research study conducted this month (Nyboe et al, 2016) looked at physical activity and anomalous bodily experiences in people with first-episode schizophrenia (FES). The purpose of the study was to compare physical activity in patients with FES with controls; to investigate changes in physical activity over one year of follow-up; and to explore the correlations of physical activity and anomalous bodily experiences reported by patients with FES. Physical activity and aerobic fitness were found to be significantly lower in people with FES compared with healthy controls. Over one year of follow-up, people with FES had lower physical activity and aerobic fitness. Those with more severe anomalous bodily experiences had significantly lower physical activity compared with others with fewer such experiences. An obvious conclusion to draw from these findings is that people with FES may benefit from physical activity given that both anomalous bodily experiences and negative symptoms are significantly correlated with low physical activity.

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