Recommendations of the Schizophrenia Expert Center network for adequate physical activity in real-world schizophrenia (FACE-SZ)

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adults complete 150–300 min per week of moderate physical activity or 75–150 min of vigorous physical activity or an equivalent combination of both, to optimize health. To explore the factors associated with adequate MVPA in stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia. 425 stabilized outpatients were recruited in the national FACE-SZ cohort between 2015 and 2018 were evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a 1-day long standardized battery. We explored in multivariate analyses the clinical and pharmacological factors associated with MVPA (model 1) and the biological factors and patient-reported outcomes (model 2). Overall, only 86 (20.2%) of the 425 participants achieved the recommended MVPA threshold. In model 1, the adequate MVPA group was associated with younger age, mood stabilizers prescription and adherence to treatment, independent of sex, positive and depressive symptoms, first-generation antipsychotics prescription, anxiolytic medication, and akathisia. In model 2, adequate MVPA was associated with better glycemic and lipidic profile and better physical and psychological well-being, self-esteem, sentimental life, and resilience independently of age, sex, and current psychotic severity. The expert centers recommend the importance of promoting promote effective MVPA programs for stabilized patients with schizophrenia. Interventions studies suggest that MVPA may be a useful strategy to maximize physical and psychological well-being and self-esteem and potentially to prevent or manage metabolic disturbances.