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Highlighting the emotional benefits of exercise encourages higher levels of participation among teens


Emotional benefits key for teens H


ighlighting the emotional benefits of exercise might be key to getting adolescents to exercise. A sample of 120 16- to 19-year-olds were split


into three experimental groups and one control group. The three experimental groups received one text message a day for two weeks that respectively outlined: the emotional benefits of exercise (‘physical activity can make you feel cheerful’); the health benefits (‘physical activity can help maintain a healthy weight’); and a combination of the two. Self-reported levels of activity showed an extra 30 minutes’ exercise across the board over the two weeks. However, levels of activity increased most among those receiving texts about the emotional benefits.


Reema Sirreyeh, study lead author, University of Leeds


Smoking cessation I


ncreasing short bouts of physical activity while trying to reduce or quit smoking can be an effective aid. Laboratory studies consistently show that temporarily


abstinent smokers want to smoke less after short bouts of five to 15 minutes of activity such as walking, and even seated isometric exercise can help reduce cravings. Recent work also shows that interest or attentional bias towards cigarettes, as captured by eye-tracking technology (while looking a video and still images) and also from brain scans, is reduced after exercise. Evidence is also emerging to suggest that similar


effects are observed among those who regularly eat chocolate. There may be some common neuro-biological process in which exercise enhances self-regulation of other health behaviours. Conversely, inactivity may make us turn to other stimulants to enhance mood.


Prof Adrian Taylor, chair in exercise & health psychology, University of Exeter


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