A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies found that preoperative high-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness. The study also suggests that this type of training may reduce postoperative complications among adults undergoing major surgery, supporting its inclusion in pre-habilitation programs.
A new study reveals a 12-week brain fitness program with coaching and lifestyle interventions improves patients' memory, attention, mood, and sleep. The program demonstrates significant improvements in cognitive function and reduces symptoms for ADHD, concussion, and memory loss patients.
A large Swedish study found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness may lower the incidence and mortality rates of certain cancers in men. The researchers suggest prioritizing CRF interventions for individuals with low fitness levels.
Research from University of California San Diego scientists found that honey bee pollination results in inferior quality plant offspring compared to native bees. The study revealed that honey bees visit twice as many flowers per plant before moving to the next, leading to higher levels of self-pollination and lower-quality offspring.
Researchers developed a new biological age indicator, DNAmFitAge, that incorporates physical fitness parameters, showing a correlation with lower mortality risk, coronary heart disease risk reduction, and improved disease-free status in physically fit individuals.
Increasing physical activity, particularly daily 20-minute walks, can improve cardiovascular health and reduce disparities in heart health. Despite this, only one in four American adults meet the recommended physical activity levels, with certain groups facing additional barriers to accessibility.
A recent study found that healthy dietary patterns are strongly associated with improved fitness in middle-aged adults. The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, examined over 2,380 participants and found that a Mediterranean-style diet with fresh whole foods and minimal processed items led to higher cardio...
A new automated algorithm enhances the assessment of human neuron survival in synucleinopathy by tracking cell death and markers of neuronal fitness. The developed method offers improved accuracy and consistency compared to manual counting.
Researchers at the University of South Australia analyzed Instagram fitspiration accounts, finding nearly two-thirds published dubious fitness information. Hyper-sexualized content, objectification, or nudity was present in around a quarter of accounts, promoting unhealthy body shapes and driving body image issues.
Researchers found that people dislike fitness recommendations from apps using social media data, instead favoring personalized approaches with control options. Users prefer systems allowing them to choose between different recommendation methods, making them feel more in control.
Researchers found Tai Chi Chuan improved global cognition and physical markers in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment. After 36 weeks, the Tai Chi Chuan group showed a significant average improvement of 3.29 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score compared to the baseline.
A systematic review of literature on physical activity found that the built environment and social factors have a significant influence on physical activity levels. The study identified gaps in research, particularly in understanding how social and built environments interact across communities and affect health disparities. Researcher...
A recent study by the University of Jyväskylä found that good physical fitness in children does not reduce low-grade inflammation, which is a key factor in childhood obesity. Higher body fat percentage and waist circumference were strongly associated with higher low-grade inflammation levels.
A study found that regular exercise increases mitochondrial fusion, benefiting muscle cells and maintaining physical fitness even in old age. Daily sessions of exercise throughout life delay the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and decline in physical fitness.
A 29-year study found that being fit reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in men with high blood pressure. High fitness levels attenuate, but do not eliminate, the increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in individuals with elevated blood pressure.
Research from Penn State found that self-monitoring physical activity through smartwatches leads to increased motivation and activity levels. Participants who received prompts to report their activity took hundreds more steps in a given day compared to those who didn't receive such prompts.
A new study called IGROOVE will investigate the effects of various dance styles, frequency, and social interaction on fitness, memory, and brain health in older adults. The research aims to answer fundamental questions about the optimal dosage of dance for cognitive benefits.
A Slovenian population-scaled, school-based study found that providing additional physical education lessons to young children effectively prevents childhood obesity. The intervention increased BMI in both normal-weight and obese children, with maximal effects seen after three-to-four years of participation.
In a new study, red squirrels that gamble with their reproductive strategy outperform those that play it safe, especially during mast years. Despite short-term costs, female squirrels that increase litter sizes in low-food years experience greater lifetime fitness if they get to experience a mast year.
Muscle mass and blood pressure are key factors in maintaining healthy arteries, with higher muscle mass and lower blood pressure linked to reduced arterial stiffness. The study found that these associations remain significant even after accounting for age.
Researchers found that exercise induces a cycle of fatigue and recovery in muscles, paralleled by mitochondrial network rebuilding. Long-term training programs improved middle-aged fitness, while AMPK interventions enhanced exercise capacity during aging.
A study of 5,308 participants aged 50-64 found significant correlations between sedentary behavior and low fitness levels. Highly uneven fitness distribution was observed among groups at higher risk, including older adults, foreign-born individuals, and those with poor health and lifestyle habits.
Australian children are spending too much time glued to screens and not enough on physical activity, with 80% of kids failing to meet national guidelines. A new review calls for a National Physical Activity Plan involving multiple sectors to address the issue.
A new study shows that paying cash to people with obesity for losing a specific amount of weight works better than offering free tools like weight-loss programs and wearable fitness trackers. Incentives tied to actual weight lost were most effective in the short term, while goal-focused financial rewards performed better in the long run.
Researchers developed a method to measure overall fitness using wearable devices, outperforming current consumer smartwatches and fitness monitors. The model uses machine learning to predict VO2max during everyday activity, providing accurate predictions based on heart rate and accelerometer data.
A new study found that mothers of young children and those with multiple children tend to engage in lower amounts of moderate or vigorous physical activity. However, these groups may still benefit from efforts to boost their opportunities for higher-intensity activity.
A new study using wearable devices found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity significantly reduces cardiovascular disease risk, even when total physical activity volume is increased. Increasing the proportion of intense physical activity within overall activity levels has an additional substantial benefit.
A recent study published in Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport reveals that high aerobic fitness does not protect children from metabolic syndrome. In contrast, a lower risk was observed when considering body size and composition.
A study published in JACC: CardioOncology found that exercise during chemotherapy improves long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and alleviates adverse effects of cancer treatment. After treatment, an exercise program can recover lost function. The optimal timing of exercise intervention is during chemotherapy.
Researchers found that horizontal gene transfer can accelerate bacterial adaptation under most growth conditions, but not all. By analyzing the fitness effects of gene transfer, they can predict when it will provide an advantage.
A Finnish study found that retiring individuals experience an increase in sleep time and a corresponding decrease in physical activity. This shift is attributed to the absence of work-related activities and commute time, which are replaced by sedentary behavior.
A machine learning model developed by Carnegie Mellon University can accurately predict how stay-at-home orders affect people with multiple sclerosis. The model uses passively gathered smartphone and fitness tracker data to identify factors that signal changes in health.
A recent clinical trial published in Circulation found that Fitbit wearable devices can identify patients with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to strokes. The study, led by Massachusetts General Hospital, used a novel algorithm to detect irregular heart rhythms based on Fitbit sensors.
A study from Brigham Young University found that wearing a pedometer increases daily step counts by an average of 318 steps per day. The researchers discovered that being aware of one's step count through tracking, regardless of specific goals or incentives, can lead to increased physical activity.
Research findings suggest that aerobic fitness, cognitive processing speed, and walking endurance are strongly associated in individuals with thalamic atrophy. Aerobic exercise training may be beneficial in restoring function for those with this biomarker of neurodegeneration.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that low physical function after age 65 is associated with a greater risk of developing heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The study used the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test to assess physical function in 5,570 adults over 75 years old.
A new paper in The Quarterly Review of Biology reviews studies on workload distribution and division of labor to better understand individual differences in cooperation. The authors argue that integrating collective action and offspring care literatures could lead to a deeper understanding of these factors.
Children are at risk of heat-related health problems due to obesity and physical inactivity. Fitter adults can better tolerate high temperatures, but research suggests children need daily physical activity to build fitness.
A new study has examined the relationship between physical activity and body fat in children, finding that increased body fat leads to less physical activity in boys, while no such link was found for girls. The researchers also found a link between sedentary lifestyle and body fat in boys.
A new study published in the American Heart Association's Circulation Journal found that adults who perform two to four times the currently recommended amount of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week have a significantly reduced risk of mortality. The analysis found that this range of activity resulted in a 21-23% reduction f...
A study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that regular physical activity can substantially reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease in individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants with higher levels of fitness showed a significantly lower risk of developing the disease, even among those with low soc...
A study found that individual factors such as education level and health status are more influential on leisure-time physical activity than municipal resources. Commuting physical activity is also lower in rural municipalities due to longer distances and limited public transport.
Research reveals associations between cardiovascular risk factors, low physical fitness, and decreased neural activity in the social brain network, leading to social cognitive function decline. A healthy lifestyle may mitigate this decline through targeted interventions.
A 30-year study of over 1200 participants found that children with higher levels of cardio-respiratory and muscular fitness had better midlife cognitive function. Conversely, those with higher waist-to-hip ratios were at increased risk for dementia later in life.
A new study found that consuming more ultraprocessed foods is associated with poorer locomotor skills and lower cardiovascular fitness in children. The research suggests that educating families about cost-effective ways to reduce ultraprocessed food intake can help decrease the risk for cardiovascular health problems in adulthood.
A University of Jyväskylä study found that menopausal women's ability to use fat as an energy source is not impaired by estrogen levels or menopause. Women who burned more fat during exercise had higher fitness and physical activity levels, while those with better glucose tolerance did not necessarily burn more fat.
Children's physical fitness and health-related quality of life decreased significantly after the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining healthy weight and overall well-being.
A new study found that moderate fitness can offer protection against the dampening effects of chemotherapy on natural immunity. Breast cancer survivors who were moderately fit produced a significantly larger immune response to a typhoid vaccine, while those with lower fitness levels had a reduced response.
A study by TUM confirms that physically fit primary school pupils perform better in terms of concentration and health-related quality of life. The results show a positive correlation between physical fitness, concentration, and overall well-being.
A new mathematical framework has been created to study fitness landscapes of regulatory DNA, enabling the prediction of gene expression changes. The framework uses a neural network model trained on millions of experimental measurements to decipher the evolutionary past and future of non-coding sequences.
Research from the University of Georgia shows that physical activity can improve cognitive function and brain networks in older adults. Regular movement can help maintain executive function and independence as people age.
Seventy- to eighty-year-olds who train for better fitness demonstrate better problem-solving skills and reduced cognitive decline. Regular physical activity is linked to increased brain health, including faster reaction times and improved working memory.
Physical activity monitors provide direct feedback, leading to small to moderate increases in daily steps (1,235 extra steps) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (50 extra minutes per week). The evidence suggests these devices may be useful for adults who don't meet recommended activity levels.
A recent study found a strong association between aerobic power training and high-intensity performance in elite soccer players, except for centre backs. Researchers used targeted treadmill training and lactate blood samples to assess aerobic fitness, revealing individual differences in physiological performance.
A pilot study of exercise and cognition in progressive multiple sclerosis found that cardiorespiratory fitness and free-living physical activity were not associated with improved cognitive performance. The study, which analyzed data from 240 individuals with progressive MS, suggests that other mechanisms may be at play.
A global group of researchers, industry stakeholders, and consumers have launched a networking hub to ensure the quality, accuracy, and accessibility of wearable fitness devices. The network aims to develop a standardized testing pathway and improve data standardization across devices.
Researchers found that increased physical activity reduced mortality risk in all groups, but health benefits plateaued in healthy individuals and those with cardiovascular risk factors. In contrast, cardiovascular disease patients showed no further benefit beyond a certain volume of physical activity.
A new American Heart Association scientific statement highlights how major life events, such as starting school or entering retirement, can negatively impact physical activity levels and heart health. The statement emphasizes the need for proactive measures to address this issue and provides guidance for healthcare professionals to pro...
A new study reveals that psychological attributes such as attitude, coachability, competitiveness, and work ethic are more important than physical fitness in determining basketball success. Coaches prioritize players who exhibit optimistic behavior, good communication skills, and mental toughness.
A study found that male animals have a greater genetic variance in reproductive success compared to females, which translates into purging deleterious mutations. This suggests that sexual selection on males bolsters adaptation and reduces the risk of extinction when facing challenging environmental conditions.