Arts participation may support noncommunicable disease prevention, with effects still unclear
A global review examined arts activities addressing risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, highlighting physical activity, social connection and the wider conditions that shape health.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review suggests that arts participation may contribute to preventing noncommunicable diseases through opportunities for movement, social connection and culturally relevant activities. It also describes ways arts programs may address wider social and structural influences on health. The abstract does not establish how much participation changes disease risk or which activities work best.
The abstract gives no effect sizes, comparison details or study-quality assessment. It therefore cannot show how reliably individual programs changed risk factors, or whether the findings translate into fewer cases of noncommunicable disease.
What the review examined
Researchers reviewed arts programs, practices and activities aimed at noncommunicable disease risk factors. Most reported outcomes concerned insufficient physical activity, unhealthy diets, mental health, or broader social and structural influences, rather than a single shared endpoint.
Possible pathways
The authors describe cultural relevance and opportunities to connect with others as possible contributions. These are proposed ways arts participation could support prevention; the abstract does not quantify their effects or separate them from other influences.
The original publication
The arts for disease prevention and health promotion: a systematic review.
Sonke J, Tan MKB, Lee JB et al.
Nat Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40968273
- Record checked
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