Young adults who use diet and fitness apps regularly are more likely to develop negative habits related to food, exercise and body image, Flinders University researchers have found. PhD candidate in clinical psychology, Isabella Anderberg, said while the mobile apps could benefit people by prompting them to exercise, their focus on dietary restriction and weight…
Alarming news: A new study finds that several brands of fitness tracker and smartwatch bands contain “very high concentrations” of a man-made chemical that can harm our health. University of Notre Dame researchers tested 22 wristbands at various price points — many were manufactured with fluoroelastomers, synthetic rubbers designed to repel sweat, skin oils and…
Not everyone has the determination of a gym rat and frankly, most of us don’t get as excited about working out as the few exercise enthusiasts that seem to thrive on social media. But finally, there’s some good news for the rest of us. If you’ve ever thought exercising less frequently would be helpful, you…
Go with the flow! Harnessing the power of the spleen — a fist-sized organ near the stomach that stores and filters blood — has been shown to enhance athletic performance. When the spleen contracts, it releases stored red blood cells into the bloodstream, improving oxygen delivery to muscles. Researchers from Greece kept the spleen in…
Sleep and exercise work together like gears in a machine: When one turns smoothly, the other follows suit. Quality sleep supports athletic recovery and performance, while exercise releases useful brain chemicals, lowers stress and can help you fall asleep faster. But for those battling insomnia, the rules can be different; even a small misalignment can…
Getty Images / Unsplash+ High levels of physical fitness are linked to a lower risk of dementia for people with a genetic predisposition for the disease, according to a new study. Enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness could therefore be a strategy when a patient has a high genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease—and researchers say it may be…
“Move more and sit less.” You may be familiar with this refrain, the Department of Health and Human Services’ condensed counsel for improving your health and reducing your risk of chronic disease. Existing research has tied sedentary behavior to a slew of health problems in both children and adults, from obesity and poor sleep to…
Don Saladino, a personal trainer to celebrities, said he’s in the best shape of his life at 47. Saladino strives to challenge himself continually and build muscle. His training regime includes strength and interval training, and hockey. At age 47, the personal trainer Don Saladino is in the best shape of his life. “Is my…
Natalia Blauth / Unsplash+ There’s no doubt that exercise does a body good—strengthening muscles and bolstering our bones, blood vessels, and immune system—but now, MIT engineers have found that it also has benefits at the level of individual neurons. They observed that when muscles contract during exercise, they release a soup of biochemical signals called…
