Nanette Mutrie

• PhD
• Professor Emeritus at University of Edinburgh

Objective Gender-sensitive approaches to increasing men’s physical activity (PA) through sports settings have shown promise across cultural contexts. We examined changes to men’s walking and the contribution of walking towards self-reported PA after participating in the men-only European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) programme before exploring men’s e...

Background A novel ‘whole day’ approach that could motivate the public to be more physically active is Snacktivity™. The Snacktivity™ approach encourages individuals to accumulate 150 min of physical activity in short 2–5-min ‘snacks’ of moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) throughout the day/week. Method A randomised controlled tr...

Objective Helping people to change their health behaviours is becoming a greater feature within the role of health professionals, including through whole system initiatives such as Making Every Contact Count. Health services provide an ideal setting to routinely promote health behaviours, including physical activity. Snacktivity is a novel approach...

Background: Walking is a key target behavior for promoting population health. This paper charts the 30-year history of walking policy in Scotland. We assess whether population walking levels among adults in Scotland have changed in recent years and identify the characteristics of those least likely to report any walking. Methods: We pooled 9 yea...

Introduction The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise among cancer survivors has increased in recent years; however, participants dropping out of the trials are rarely described. The objective of the present study was to assess which combinations of participant and exercise program characteristics were...

Background Public health guidance acknowledges the benefits of physical activity of any duration. We have proposed a whole-day approach to promoting physical activity called Snacktivity™, which encourages frequent 2–5 minute ‘activity snacks’ of moderate-to-vigorous intensity. Methods Using repeated semi-structured interviews and a think aloud pro...

Purpose There is growing evidence for the benefits of physical activity (PA) during the menopause life stage (MLS) in relation to general health and wellbeing, managing symptoms, and protecting against future ill health. However, Scottish national surveillance data shows a decline in women achieving PA guidelines across the MLS (40% 35-44yrs, 28% 5...

Purpose There is growing evidence for the benefits of physical activity (PA) during the menopause lifestage (MLS), but limited understanding of women’s experiences of being PA at this time. This study aimed to understand how PA is related to menopausal symptoms during the MLS by: i) assessing the proportion of participants meeting the moderate-vigo...

COVID-19 restrictions could potentially induce poor mental health. This study considers opposing government restrictions on outdoor physical activity in Italy and the UK to evaluate participants' ability to conduct physical activity, the relationship between physical activity and mental health, and whether restrictions affect mental health as media...

Background Many people do not regularly participate in physical activity, which may negatively impact their health. Current physical activity guidelines are focused on promoting weekly accumulation of at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Whilst revised guidance now recognises the importance of making small ch...

Background: Physical activity (PA) surveillance, policy, and research efforts need to be periodically appraised to gain insight into national and global capacities for PA promotion. The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries. Methods: We used data from the Global Observator...

Over a 30-year period, we have authored five versions of the textbook Psychology of Physical Activity. This provides us with more than three decades of experience to reflect on the field of the psychology of physical activity. Typically, the book has been structured around the three themes of determinants/correlates and theory, mental health outcom...

Background: The e-coachER trial aimed to determine whether adding web-based behavioural support to exercise referral schemes (ERS) increased long-term device-measured physical activity (PA) for patients with chronic conditions, compared to ERS alone, within a randomised controlled trial. This study explores the mechanisms of action of the e-coachE...

Introduction Multidomain interventions to address modifiable risk factors for dementia are promising, but require more cost-effective, scalable delivery. This study investigated the feasibility of the “Active Brains” digital behavior change intervention and its trial procedures. Materials and methods Active Brains aims to reduce cognitive decline...

Background: The ActWELL RCT assessed the effectiveness of a weight management programme delivered by volunteer lifestyle coaches (LC) in women attending breast clinics. The intervention focused on caloric intake and physical activity, utilising behavioural change techniques including a weight awareness plan (WAP). The current work is a secondary a...

Since the mid-2000s there has been a substantial increase in electric bicycle related research seeking to answer a variety of questions in domains ranging from engineering to health. This chapter explores several of these questions, bringing together information on electric bicycle usage and sales, literature examining the demographics of electric...

Background Many people do not meet the recommended health guidance of participation in a minimum of 150–300 min of moderate intensity physical activity per week, often promoted as at least 30 min of physical activity on 5 days of the week. This is concerning and highlights the importance of finding innovative ways to help people to be physically ac...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background Increased physical activity (PA), reduced time spent sedentary (SED), healthier diet and reduced body weight may all have a positive impact on cardiometabolic risk. The relative importance of change in each of these variables on cardiometabolic risk, however, is unclear. We therefore sought to investigate the relative contributions of ch...

Effective physical activity messaging plays an important role in the pathway towards changing physical activity behaviour at a population level. The Physical Activity Messaging Framework (PAMF) and Checklist (PAMC) are outputs from a recent modified Delphi study. This sought consensus from an international expert panel on how to aid the creation an...

Background Adults should achieve a minimum of 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week, but many people do not achieve this. Changes to international guidance have removed the requirement to complete physical activity in bouts of at least 10 min. Snacktivity is a novel and complementary approach that could motivate peopl...

Amidst public health campaigns urging people to sit less as well as being more physically active, this paper investigates how older adults make sense of their sedentary behaviour. Using an accounts framework focusing on how people rationalise their sitting practices, we analysed data from 44 qualitative interviews with older adults. All interviewee...

Evidence demonstrates that participation in regular physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality. However, current PA guidelines are focused on weekly accumulation of 150 min of moderate intensity PA as a threshold. Although recent developments of this guidance have discussed the merits of short bouts of physical activity, gui...

Background Over the past decade several physical activity (PA) interventions have been shown to be efficacious in a controlled research setting, however there is a continued lack of evidence for how to successfully implement these PA interventions in real-world settings such as the community. This review aims to explore the barriers and facilitator...

Introduction Physical activity messaging is an important step in the pathway towards improving population physical activity levels, but best practice is not yet understood. A gap in the literature exists for a physical activity messaging framework to help guide creation and evaluation of messages. This study aimed to further develop and improve, an...

Background By 2050, worldwide dementia prevalence is expected to triple. Affordable, scalable interventions are required to support protective behaviours such as physical activity, cognitive training and healthy eating. This paper outlines the theory-, evidence- and person-based development of ‘Active Brains’: a multi-domain digital behaviour chang...

Background It is estimated that around 30% of breast cancers in post-menopausal women are related to lifestyle. The breast cancer-pooling project demonstrated that sustained weight loss of 2 to 4.5 kg is associated with an 18% lower risk of breast cancer, highlighting the importance of small changes in body weight. Our study aimed to assess the eff...

Introduction Prehabilitation in colorectal surgery is evolving and may minimise postoperative morbidity and mortality. With many different healthcare professionals contributing to the prehabilitation literature, there is significant variation in reported primary endpoints that restricts comparison. In addition, there has been limited work on patien...

Purpose: This study explored participant views of a web-based physical activity intervention for older adults and examined how they resonate with the key principles that guided intervention development. Methods: Qualitative interviews were carried out with 52 older adults. A deductive qualitative analysis approach was taken, based around the int...

Objective: To determine whether adding web-based support (e-coachER) to an exercise referral scheme (ERS) increases objectively assessed physical activity (PA). Design: Multicentre trial with participants randomised to usual ERS alone (control) or usual ERS plus e-coachER (intervention). Setting: Primary care and ERS in three UK sites from 201...

Physical activity (PA) is central to maintaining health and wellbeing as we age. Valid, reliable measurement tools are vital for understanding, and evaluating PA. There are limited options for comprehensively, accurately and affordably measuring older adults’ PA at scale at present. We aimed to develop a digital PA measurement tool specifically for...

Purpose: This study explored participant views of a web-based physical activity intervention for older adults and examined how they resonate with the key principles that guided intervention development. Methods: Qualitative interviews were carried out with 52 older adults. A deductive qualitative analysis approach was taken, based around the interv...

Background Patients with rectal cancer who present with sarcopenia (low muscle mass) are at significantly greater risk of postoperative complications and reduction in disease-free survival. We performed a subanalysis of a randomised controlled study [the REx trial; www.isrctn.com; 62859294] to assess the potential of prehabilitation to modify muscl...

Background: Around 30% of post-menopausal breast cancer is related to excess body fat, alcohol intake and low levels of physical activity. Current estimates suggest that there is a 12% increased risk in post-menopausal breast cancer for every 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index (BMI). Despite this evidence there are few lifestyle programmes direct...

Background: Understanding how to create and deliver effective physical activity (PA) messages for and to various population subgroups may play a role in increasing population PA levels. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of what is known about PA messaging and highlight key research gaps. Methods: We followed a 5-stage protocol pro...

Background By 2050 worldwide dementia prevalence is expected to triple, rising to 152 million. Affordable, scalable interventions are required to support protective behaviours such as physical activity, cognitive training and healthy eating. This paper outlines the development of ‘Active Brains’: a multi-domain digital behaviour change intervention...

Background By 2050 worldwide dementia prevalence is expected to triple, rising to 152 million. Affordable, scalable interventions are required to support protective behaviours such as physical activity, cognitive training and healthy eating. This paper outlines the development of ‘Active Brains’: a multi-domain digital behaviour change intervention...

BACKGROUND Increasing physical activity, improving diet and doing 'brain training' exercises are associated with reduced cognitive decline in older adults. Here we describe a feasibility trial of the Active Brains intervention, an online digital intervention developed to support older adults to make these three healthy behaviour changes associated...

Background Increasing physical activity, improving diet and doing 'brain training' exercises are associated with reduced cognitive decline in older adults. Here we describe a feasibility trial of the Active Brains intervention, an online digital intervention developed to support older adults to make these three healthy behaviour changes associated...

Background By 2050 worldwide dementia prevalence is expected to triple, rising to 152 million. Affordable, scalable interventions are required to support protective behaviours such as physical activity, cognitive training and healthy eating. This paper outlines the development of ‘Active Brains’: a multi-domain digital behaviour change intervention...

Background Around 30% of post-menopausal breast cancer is related to excess body fat, alcohol intake and low levels of physical activity. Current estimates suggest that there is a 12% increased risk in post-menopausal breast cancer for every 5kg/m 2 increase in Body Mass Index (BMI). Despite this evidence there are few lifestyle programmes directed...

Introduction The dissemination of research, and evaluation of its impact is an increasing priority for the scientific community and funders. We take the topic of golf and health and aim to outline processes that may contribute to improved research uptake, use and impact proposing a research impact (RI) tool. We then evaluate our published research...

Background: There is modest evidence that exercise referral schemes (ERS) increase physical activity (PA) of inactive individuals with chronic health conditions. There is a need to identify additional ways to improve the effects of ERS on long-term PA. Objectives: To determine if adding the e-coachER intervention to ERS is more effective and cost...

In this article, we present a conceptual framework for understanding, designing, and evaluating physical activity messages. The overall aim of this framework is to harmonise and enhance the area of physical activity messaging. The conceptual framework is presented here for feedback, comment and discussion. We view this as a first step to be improve...

Purpose: Fatigue is a common and potentially disabling symptom in patients with cancer. It can often be effectively reduced by exercise. Yet, effects of exercise interventions might differ across subgroups. We conducted a meta-analysis using individual patient data of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate moderators of exercise interv...

Background: Policy analysis is considered essential for achieving successful reforms in health promotion and public health. The only framework for physical activity (PA) policy analysis was developed at a time when the field of PA policy research was in its early stages. PA policy research has since grown, and our understanding of what elements ne...

Background/objectives To explore and describe the comparability between the surveys of the UK home nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) that monitor compliance with the Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity (PA) recommendations. We also suggest ways to improve the UK national PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) surveillance systems....

Background Yoga has been recommended as a muscle strengthening and balance activity in national and global physical activity guidelines. However, the evidence base establishing the effectiveness of yoga in improving physical function and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in an older adult population not recruited on the basis of any specific d...

This study aimed to identify what impact a novel approach to teaching physical education (PE) had on children's physical activity (PA), coordination and cognition compared to current provision. One hundred and fifty children were recruited from six primary schools in Scotland. Outcome measures were the Cognitive Assessment System, the Physical Acti...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002736.].

Background Reducing sitting time as well as increasing physical activity in inactive people is beneficial for their health. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) programme to improve physical activity and sedentary time in male football fans, delivered through the professional football setting. Method...

EuroFIT self-complete baseline questionnaire. EuroFIT, European Fans in Training. (PDF)

EuroFIT self-complete 12-month questionnaire. EuroFIT, European Fans in Training. (PDF)

Supplementary tables. (PDF)

Intervention effect heterogeneity, grouped by moderator interaction on physical activity, sedentary time, and weight. (PDF)

Probability of EuroFIT being cost-effective compared with the comparison group. EuroFIT, European Fans in Training. (PDF)

Description of the SitFIT device for self-monitoring physical activity and sedentary behaviour and of MatchFIT to encourage game-based social interaction. (PDF)

Standard operating procedure for preparing activPAL data for analysis using automated sleep and non–wear-time algorithm. (PDF)

EuroFIT statistical analysis plan. EuroFIT, European Fans in Training. (PDF)

EuroFIT self-complete post-programme questionnaire. EuroFIT, European Fans in Training. (PDF)

Background Previous research of spectators at professional golf tournaments has highlighted that obtaining exercise/physical activity (PA) can be a motivator to attend, and that spectators can engage in health-enhancing PA while at the event. We assessed whether attending a golf event and receiving an intervention improve knowledge and change attit...

Background Rectal cancer patients undergoing NACRT (neo‐adjuvant chemoradiotherapy) experience physical deterioration and reductions in their quality of life. This feasibility study assessed pre‐habilitation (a walking intervention) before, during and after NACRT to inform a definitive multi‐centred RCT (REx Trial). Methods Patients planned for NA...

The capacity of physical activity (PA) measures to detect changes in PA within interventions is crucial. This is the first study to examine the responsiveness of activ PAL3 ™ and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; Short Form) in detecting PA change during a 12-week group-based, men-only weight management program—Football Fans...

Introduction In Scotland, the incidence of breast cancer is predicted to rise significantly in the next few decades and while there are measures to support reductions in morbidity and mortality, the breast cancer community is currently exploring preventative opportunities including supporting weight management programmes in postmenopausal women. Th...