Australians with bipolar disorder name symptoms and funding gaps as top barriers to healthy living

A large survey of Australians living with bipolar disorder has found that the condition’s own symptoms are the most commonly reported barrier to staying healthy, while increased funding support tops the list of what participants say would help them most. The study, published in BMC Public Health, was co-designed with the consumer group Bipolar Australia and surveyed 366 Australians who chose to take part in an online questionnaire with open-ended questions about health, diet and exercise.

The researchers, Sophie Hillier and Tania Perich, analysed the responses using content analysis within an exploratory mixed-methods design. Beyond funding, participants identified several other priority areas of need, including better access to exercise facilities and to allied health support such as dieticians. The findings offer one of the few Australian-specific pictures of what people with bipolar disorder say they need to manage their physical health, despite the condition being associated with higher rates of medical co-morbidities.

Satisfaction with current health, diet and exercise activity was lower among participants who reported having a co-morbid physical health condition with high levels of interference in daily life. This suggests that the burden of physical illness on everyday functioning may shape how people with bipolar disorder experience and manage their lifestyle-related health behaviours, the authors note.

Co-occurring mental health conditions also mattered. Participants with additional mental health conditions were more likely to report mental health symptoms as a barrier to their health, diet and exercise goals, pointing to layered challenges for people managing more than one psychiatric diagnosis alongside their bipolar disorder.

The authors conclude that people living with bipolar disorder have unique health, diet and exercise needs arising from the nature of their condition, and that the impact of co-occurring physical health conditions should be considered when designing lifestyle-based interventions. They also call for more research to understand current levels of engagement in exercise among people with bipolar disorder, how such engagement can best be supported, and how dietary support can be improved.

Subject of Research: Health, diet and exercise needs of people living with bipolar disorder in Australia

Article Title: Health, diet and exercise needs of people living with bipolar disorder in Australia

Article References: Hillier, S., & Perich, T. (2026). Health, diet and exercise needs of people living with bipolar disorder in Australia. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29696-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-29696-w

Keywords: bipolar disorder, mental health, diet, exercise, public health, Australia, Health, needs, people, living, bipolar, disorder