Physical Activity News and Research

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Men develop premature heart disease earlier than women

The study uncovers critical insights into sex-based heart disease risks, highlighting young adulthood as key for effective cardiovascular health interventions.

2 Feb 2026

Do lifestyle choices affect university students' grades

Researchers examine the association between academic performance on secondary school exams and lifestyle behaviors among university students.

2 Feb 2026

Daily coffee intake linked to fewer atrial fibrillation relapses

The study reveals that moderate coffee consumption may lower atrial fibrillation recurrence risk post-cardioversion, highlighting coffee's potential benefits.

30 Jan 2026

Ischemic stroke increases expectant mother's risk for another stroke during or soon after pregnancy

Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother's odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

29 Jan 2026

Eating melatonin-rich foods is linked to lower obesity and depression rates

This cross-sectional analysis of 8,320 Brazilian adults quantified melatonin intake from habitual diets and examined associations with multiple chronic health outcomes. Higher dietary melatonin intake was inversely associated with obesity and depression in a non-linear pattern, with no significant associations observed for other conditions.

28 Jan 2026

Mapping the early onset of coronary heart disease in men

Men begin developing coronary heart disease - which can lead to heart attacks - years earlier than women, with differences emerging as early as the mid-30s, according to a large, long-term study led by Northwestern Medicine.

28 Jan 2026

'Evening people' more likely to have poor cardiovascular health

Middle-aged and older adults who were more active in the evenings had poorer cardiovascular health compared to their peers who were more active during the day.

28 Jan 2026

Following the EAT-Lancet diet lowers chronic kidney disease risk

Research shows the EAT-Lancet diet may lower chronic kidney disease risk, emphasizing the importance of diet quality and personalized nutrition in prevention.

28 Jan 2026

How modern lifestyles reprogram the gut microbiome and shape disease risk

Modern lifestyle factors such as circadian disruption, sleep deprivation, stress, and exercise reshape the gut bacteriome and its metabolic outputs. These microbiome changes are linked to immune, metabolic, and cancer-related pathways, largely through evidence from animal models and observational human studies.

27 Jan 2026

Why exercise is essential for restoring fitness after GLP-1-based weight loss

This randomized controlled trial shows that structured moderate-to-vigorous exercise, alone or combined with liraglutide, improves physical function and cardiorespiratory fitness after diet-induced weight loss in adults with obesity. In contrast, liraglutide alone sustains weight loss but does not significantly improve measured physical fitness outcomes.

26 Jan 2026

Why the age you start smoking matters as much as how much you smoke

Starting smoking at a younger age is associated with substantially higher risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death, even after accounting for cumulative smoking exposure. Early initiation also amplifies the cardiovascular harm of heavier smoking, indicating increased vulnerability when smoking begins in adolescence.

25 Jan 2026

Sedentary adulthood increases biological stress levels by middle age

Prolonged insufficient physical activity in adulthood increases the body's stress burden, according to a large longitudinal study based on the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. By contrast, engaging in physical activity in line with recommended guidelines appears to protect the body from harmful stress.

23 Jan 2026

Nearly half of adults now live with heart disease as obesity and diabetes surge

The 2026 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report shows that nearly half of adults are living with cardiovascular disease, with cardiometabolic risk factors projected to rise substantially by 2050. Despite progress in smoking reduction and cholesterol control, worsening obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep health, and persistent inequities threaten future cardiovascular health.

22 Jan 2026

Exercise variety, not just volume, is tied to longer life

Researchers analysed nearly three decades of data from more than 111,000 adults to examine whether the variety of physical activities people perform is linked to long-term survival. They found that engaging in a broader range of activity types was associated with lower all-cause mortality, independent of total exercise volume.

22 Jan 2026

Menopausal hormone therapy linked to greater weight loss with tirzepatide

A new study led by Mayo Clinic found that postmenopausal women receiving menopausal hormone therapy lost 35% more weight while taking tirzepatide, a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for the treatment of overweight and obesity.

22 Jan 2026

Regular aerobic exercise slows a key marker of brain aging in midlife

Regular aerobic activity significantly reduces brain-PAD, indicating that exercise is crucial for maintaining brain health and reducing dementia risk.

22 Jan 2026

Lifelong health: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 enters a new era of aging research

One of the world’s most extensive birth cohorts is now entering later adulthood. At the University of Oulu in Finland, the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) is launching a major new follow-up combining decades of biological, social, and environmental data with modern digital health tools to examine how lifelong exposures and the genome shape health and aging.

22 Jan 2026

ŌURA and NUS launch joint lab to advance personalized preventive health

ŌURA, maker of the most scientifically validated smart ring, Oura Ring, and the Centre for Sleep and Cognition (CSC) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), today announced the opening of the Oura–NUS Joint Lab, a new research entity dedicated to advancing personalized preventive health.

21 Jan 2026

Social connections and exercise together boost health in aging adults

Experts long have known that strong social networks and physical activity help older adults stay healthier. Until now, however, little has been known about how these two factors interact to affect the health and well-being of this group.

21 Jan 2026

Low patient engagement hinders at-home blood pressure management

Despite guideline recommendations and improved access to care, individuals with hypertension are unlikely to measure their blood pressure at home as often as recommended, according to data from researchers at Mass General Brigham.

21 Jan 2026