Physical Activity News and Research

RSS

Three months of yoga before surgery revealed a surprising difference in stress hormones

In a non-randomized study of 40 adults with severe obesity awaiting bariatric surgery, researchers found significantly lower plasma noradrenaline levels in yoga participants than in controls after adjusting for baseline measurements. The researchers detected no significant DNA methylation changes in three inflammatory genes and found no clear psychological or metabolic benefits.

12 Oct 2026

Screen time was linked to teen anxiety. Then researchers compared twins

A longitudinal study of 21,797 Swedish twins found that heavy interactive screen use during adolescence was associated with more anxiety and depressive symptoms and a higher likelihood of subsequent clinical mental health outcomes. However, these associations weakened substantially when comparing twins with different screen habits, suggesting that shared genetic and environmental factors contribute to the relationship.

12 Oct 2026

Diet drinks showed no clear weight-loss edge over water after two years

In a two-year randomized trial combining assisted weight management with an unassisted follow-up year, completers maintained average weight losses of 4.8 kg with diet drinks and 3.7 kg with water. Researchers found no significant difference between groups, but fewer than half of the 493 participants completed follow-up.

11 Oct 2026

What people ate at the start of a 20-year study was linked to their heart failure odds

Researchers linked higher baseline diet quality to lower odds of developing heart failure over 20 years among 2,159 Greek adults initially free of cardiovascular disease. Healthy-food consumption showed the most consistent association, but the observational study cannot establish that dietary changes prevent heart failure.

11 Oct 2026

A trial of 197 childcare services tested a different approach to active play

A trial involving 197 Australian childcare services found no significant overall improvements in guideline adherence or children’s observed physical activity and recreational screen time. Accredited services showed greater improvements in guideline adherence and before-school activity, but selection bias limits conclusions about whether accreditation caused these changes.

11 Oct 2026

Long-term cannabis use may disrupt sleep without noticeable symptoms

Millions of Americans use cannabis products as sleep aids, but a new Northwestern Medicine study suggests marijuana may not improve sleep the way many people believe it does.

9 Oct 2026

Cutting sugary drinks helps reduce childhood obesity, study finds

While the adult obesity rate appears to be slowing in the United States, childhood obesity remains historically high, affecting nearly 1 in 5 school-aged children.

9 Oct 2026

Does extra protein protect aging muscle during fasting?

A randomized trial found that alternate-day fasting reduced weight in older men, while added protein and leucine did not prevent lean mass loss.

7 Oct 2026

Study links pregnancy complications to future heart and kidney disease

Women with a complication in the latest pregnancy, or in a previous pregnancy, face an elevated risk of developing cardiometabolic-renal conditions in subsequent years, suggests a UK study published online in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

6 Oct 2026

New global definition changes how childhood obesity is identified

A new global definition of clinical obesity classifies far fewer children as obese than the widely used body mass index (BMI), according to a large international study. And the findings could lead to changes to how childhood obesity is identified and managed.

6 Oct 2026

Cranberry juice doesn’t affect every woman the same way

Cranberry juice's effectiveness against UTIs varies among women due to metabolic differences, impacting urinary anti-adhesion activity and pathogen response.

6 Oct 2026

Short bursts of exercise may improve fitness and blood sugar in sedentary adults

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies involving 994 sedentary or inactive adults found that brief “exercise snacks” were associated with improvements in VO₂peak, blood glucose, and triglycerides.

6 Oct 2026

Australians trust dietary advice. But few know how much fat is recommended

Australian adults show low awareness and adherence to national dietary fat guidelines.

6 Oct 2026

Nature recognized as key component of lifestyle medicine and health

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today welcomed a resolution adopted by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) that recognizes nature's role in supporting human health and calls for greater collaboration among the conservation, healthcare and research communities.

5 Oct 2026

Global experts call for coordinated action on digital health risks

$Vitamin B12 deficiency was linked to higher fracture hazard after 50$

Vitamin B12 deficiency was linked to higher fracture hazard after 50

A study links abnormal vitamin B12 levels to fracture risk, highlighting a complex relationship beyond simple deficiency in middle-aged and older adults.

2 Oct 2026