Physical activity and mental health: a systematic review and best-evidence synthesis of mediation and moderation studies.

Background: While evidence consistently demonstrates that physical activity is beneficial to mental health, it remains relatively unknown how physical activity benefits mental health, and which factors influence the effect of physical activity on mental health. This understanding could vastly increase our capacity to design, recommend, and prescribe physical activity in more optimal ways. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and synthesise evidence of all mediators and moderators of the relationship between physical activity and mental health.

Acute appetite and eating behaviour responses to apparatus-free, high-intensity intermittent exercise in inactive women with excess weight.

High-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) has been shown to transiently suppress appetite, but such exercise has traditionally required the use of specialist apparatus (e.g., cycle ergometer).

Points-based physical activity: a novel approach to facilitate changes in body composition in inactive women with overweight and obesity.

Background: Physical activity (PA) interventions for the promotion of weight-management may benefit from increased choice and flexibility to overcome commonly-perceived barriers to PA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a novel "points-based" approach to PA on body composition in inactive women, who are overweight or obese.

Methods: Seventy-six overweight or obese, inactive women were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: 'Points-based' PA (PBPA; 30 "PA points"•week), Structured exercise (StructEx; 150 min moderate-intensity exercise•week) or control (CONT; continue habitual inactive lifestyle) for a 24-week intervention.