Physical Activity News and Research

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Metabolic BMI reveals hidden health risks in normal weight individuals

People of normal weight may also be at risk of diabetes and similar diseases. A study from the University of Gothenburg reveals that those with an unexpectedly high so-called metabolic BMI have up to a five times higher risk level.

12 Jan 2026

Male endurance athletes aged over 50 may be at greater risk of serious heart problems

Veteran male athletes who have spent years training at high intensity may be at greater risk of serious heart problems while exercising, new University of Leeds research shows.

12 Jan 2026

Heavy coffee drinking may weaken bone density in older women

Researchers investigate the longitudinal associations of coffee and tea consumption with bone mineral density in older women.

12 Jan 2026

Chronic back pain predicts poor sleep in older men

Researchers investigate the prevalence of back pain and sleep issues in men 65 years of age and older.

12 Jan 2026

Study reveals the global economic costs of diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder and one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide.

9 Jan 2026

Research shows benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes

New research co-authored by Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe, UCD School of Medicine, and led by the University of Liverpool, has demonstrated the significant benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes.

9 Jan 2026

Breastfeeding linked to lower long-term depression and anxiety in mothers

Breastfeeding may lower mothers' later life risks of depression and anxiety for up to 10 years after pregnancy, suggest the findings of an observational study, BMJ Open' page">published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

9 Jan 2026

Breastfeeding linked to reduced maternal depression and anxiety up to ten years

Breastfeeding may lower mothers' later life risks of depression and anxiety for up to 10 years after pregnancy, suggest the findings of a small observational study, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

8 Jan 2026

Weight loss drugs may cause nutritional deficiencies without proper guidance

People prescribed the new generation of weight loss drugs may not receive sufficient nutritional guidance to support safe and sustainable weight loss, leaving them vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss, say experts at UCL and the University of Cambridge.

7 Jan 2026

Physical activity shows comparable benefits to therapy for treating depression

Exercise may reduce symptoms of depression to a similar extent as psychological therapy, according to an updated Cochrane review. When compared with antidepressant medication, exercise also showed a similar effect, but the evidence was of low certainty.

7 Jan 2026

Stopping weight loss drugs leads to rapid weight regain and health reversal

Stopping weight loss drugs is followed by weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on heart and metabolic health markers such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

7 Jan 2026

Higher intake of food preservatives linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Higher consumption of food preservatives, widely used in industrially processed foods and beverages to extend their shelf life, has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

7 Jan 2026

Light daily movement linked to lower mortality risk in people with CKM syndrome

Light intensity activities, like walking or household chores, were linked to a lower risk of death for people with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

7 Jan 2026

Study shows beneficial impact of natural light on people with type 2 diabetes

Metabolic diseases have reached epidemic proportions in our society, driven by a sedentary lifestyle coupled with circadian misalignment - a desynchrony between our intrinsic biological clocks and environmental signals.

7 Jan 2026

Neighborhood deprivation predicts poorer lower-limb strength

Neighborhood-level disadvantages are linked to reduced lower limb strength and mobility in older adults, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

6 Jan 2026

New exercise-sensing pathway offers hope for osteoporosis treatment

A research team from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has uncovered a key biological mechanism that explains how exercise maintain strong bones, paving the way for novel treatments for osteoporosis and bone loss in people who are unable to engage.

6 Jan 2026

"Blue zones" longevity claims validated by new research

A new peer-reviewed paper published in The Gerontologist provides the most comprehensive scientific response to date addressing recent critiques of the so-called "blue zones," regions of the world known for unusually high concentrations of people living long, healthy lives.

5 Jan 2026

Depression links to chronic headaches through weight and diet, not physical activity alone

Depression was associated with a higher likelihood of chronic headaches in Iranian adults, with statistical models identifying body mass index and dietary iron intake as partial mediators. Physical activity was linked to depression but did not independently mediate headache outcomes, highlighting interconnected, non-causal pathways.

1 Jan 2026

Prediabetes prevalence doubles over two decades in Finnish children with obesity

The prevalence of prediabetes has increased significantly in recent years among Finnish children living with overweight or obesity, a recent study by Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland shows.

30 Dec 2025

Getting a dog for the first time boosts walking and remote social ties

First-time dog owners in Japan showed significant increases in walking activity and non-face-to-face social contact over one year compared with non-dog owners. No significant changes were observed in vigorous activity or face-to-face social contact, highlighting specific behavioral associations rather than broad lifestyle shifts.

21 Dec 2025