Moving beyond the weight-loss paradigm of exercise interventions for mental illness

Highlights: Exercise interventions for people with mental illness do not consistently result in weight loss, but can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk and psychiatric symptoms. Focusing on fitness outcomes of exercise, as opposed to weight-loss, may provide patients with more achievable and valuable goals. The role of resistance training interventions for psychiatric populations is currently under-researched. Incorporating this alongside aerobic exercise could confer substantial benefits for cardiometabolic health and mental well-being