Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40760035›Full record

ReviewNature human behaviour2025

A complex systems view on physical activity with actionable insights for behaviour change.

Julia Schüler, Matti T J Heino, Natàlia Balagué, Angel M Chater, Markus Gruber, Martina Kanning, Daniel Keim, Daniela Mier, Maria Moreno-Villanueva, Fridtjof W Nussbeck and 4 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nature human behaviour, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Julia SchülerDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany. julia.schueler@uni-konstanz.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7790-0491
Matti T J HeinoMedical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3812-3543
Natàlia BalaguéComplex Systems in Sport Research Group. Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Unversity of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5076-9166
Angel M ChaterCentre for Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change, Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9043-2565
Markus GruberDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0233-3912
Martina KanningDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6471-6268
Daniel KeimDepartment of Computer Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7966-9740
Daniela MierDepartment of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2518-7492
Maria Moreno-VillanuevaDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7143-0871
Fridtjof W NussbeckDepartment of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4002-8916
Jens PruessnerDepartment of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8582-2980
Termeh ShafieCenter for Data and Methods, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8419-8477
Michael SchwenkDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2002-2656
Maik BielekeDepartment of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2586-1416

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Physical inactivity and its associated health and economic burdens continue to rise despite decades of interdisciplinary research aimed at promoting physical activity. This Perspective takes a complex systems view on physical activity, proposing that at least two layers of complexity should be considered: (1) interactions between various physiological, psychological, social and environmental systems; and (2) their dynamic interactions across time. To address this complexity, all stages of the research process-from theory and measurement to study design, analysis and interventions-must be aligned with a complex systems perspective. This alignment requires intensive interdisciplinary collaboration and an integration of basic and applied research beyond current research practices to create transdisciplinary solutions. We offer actionable insights that bridge the gap between abstract theoretical approaches (for example, complex systems and attractor landscape frameworks of behaviour change) and practical research on physical activity, thereby laying a foundation for more effective behaviour change interventions.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth BehaviorHealth PromotionHumans

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.