Physical Activity News and Research

RSS

Daily orforglipron treatment reduces weight and blood sugar in seniors

A new analysis to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) examined daily oral orforglipron treatment for the treatment of obesity, with or without diabetes, in users aged 65 years and over, with results and a safety profile similar to that seen in the ATTAIN clinical trial programme population.

11 May 2026

Walking 8,500 steps daily may help prevent weight regain

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) and published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows that doing around 8,500 steps a day can help people keep weight off after dieting.

10 May 2026

Exercise or caffeine? Study finds neither clearly beats placebo for mental fatigue

Researchers compare the effects of caffeine and aerobic exercise on mental fatigue in adults.

10 May 2026

Do repeated football head hits disrupt the gut microbiome?

A small exploratory study of collegiate football players found that non-concussive head impacts are correlationally linked to acute and season-long shifts in gut microbiome composition, with changes most pronounced 48–72 hours after significant impacts. However, most associations weakened after correction for multiple testing, and the authors stress the findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating.

10 May 2026

Short bouts of exercise help smokers manage immediate nicotine cravings

Exercise may offer smokers a simple but effective additional tool when trying to quit, according to a new systematic review led by researchers from the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at Adelaide University.

8 May 2026

Time-restricted eating helps with adherence in diabetes patients

Time-restricted eating shows promise for type 2 diabetes management, with family support and simple rules aiding adherence and metabolic health improvements.

8 May 2026

Nutrition and body image program improves recovery for women with substance use disorders

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, examined the impact of the Healthy Steps to Freedom (HSF-10) program on nutrition, body image, and health-related behaviors among 607 women undergoing treatment for substance use.

7 May 2026

Research links muscle loss, weaker grip and slower walking pace to higher risk of stroke

Muscle loss, a weaker grip and a slower walking pace were associated with a higher risk of stroke in adults, according to new research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

7 May 2026

Birth weight predicts kidney function during endurance exercise

Researchers investigate how birth weight determines kidney function changes following prolonged physical activity in different environmental conditions.

7 May 2026

Ultra processed foods linked to higher cardiovascular disease and death

People who eat more ultra processed food (UPF) have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a report published in the European Heart Journal today (Thursday).

7 May 2026

Using Apple Watch and AI to protect children undergoing cancer treatment from infections

A new trial will test whether a tool that harnesses Apple Watch health data and artificial intelligence can help protect children undergoing cancer treatment from infections.

6 May 2026

Daily movement is linked to better mood and emotional well-being

Going on walks, going up stairs, working around the home: One meta-study shows how everyday movements are linked to our mood.

6 May 2026

App launched to track heart health after high-risk pregnancies

The MumCare app addresses postpartum cardiovascular risk, supporting women in managing health after pregnancy complications through personalized digital tools.

6 May 2026

Asthma-Friendly Schools recognition program expands across Colorado districts

A total of 221 schools across early childhood, elementary, middle and high school levels have earned Colorado Asthma-Friendly School recognition.

5 May 2026

Muscle fat levels on MRI linked to cardiometabolic risk

Using a deep learning model to analyze the composition of large muscles on MRI, German researchers found that the proportions of intermuscular fat and lean muscle mass were associated with high blood pressure and unhealthy lipid and blood sugar levels.

5 May 2026

Exercise remains essential alongside GLP-1 obesity treatments

As GLP-1 receptor agonists reshape obesity treatment, a new medical perspective published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, underscores a persistent gap in care: integrating exercise into weight management in ways patients can sustain.

5 May 2026

Child health experts launch GenHEART to tackle Australia's obesity crisis

Heart health, diet, exercise and sleep will be targeted under a multi-pronged strategy by child health experts to address Australia's obesity crisis.

4 May 2026

NIH awards $44 million for landmark study on health challenges in the rural South

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has been awarded a five-year, $44 million contract from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for a landmark study focused on persistent health challenges in the rural South.

30 Apr 2026

Brief walking breaks help the body control sugar after carb-rich meals

Brief brisk walking breaks during prolonged sitting improved post-meal interstitial glucose responses in healthy adults after carbohydrate-rich meals, with the strongest effects seen in women. Gluteal fat showed a more stable glucose pattern than abdominal fat, suggesting it may help buffer carbohydrate-related glucose rises through depot-specific uptake and lipid-synthesis pathways.

29 Apr 2026

AHA calls for lifelong brain health strategy to prevent cognitive decline

The AHA scientific statement calls for a life-course approach to brain health that integrates cognitive, emotional, behavioral, vascular, environmental, inflammatory, sleep, microbiome, and social factors. It highlights how early-life exposures, mental health, pollution, chronic inflammation, poor sleep, gut dysbiosis, and socioeconomic adversity may shape brain resilience and later-life cognitive decline.

29 Apr 2026