The interplay between exercise, physical activity and health has garnered attention in recent years, particularly as societies face an increasing burden of chronic diseases and an aging population. Physical activity and exercise can improve many aspects of health including but not limited to cardiovascular health, metabolic health and mental health.

With this cross-journal Collection, the editors at Nature Communications, Communications Medicine, npj Exercise Medicine and Health, and Scientific Reports invite manuscripts that highlight works exploring the mechanisms through which exercise modulates health, preclinical and clinical interventional studies as well as epidemiological and public health research.