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Health & Fitness
Have scientists found a drug as good as a 10km run?
Danish researchers recently announced a drug called LaKe which “brings the body into a metabolic state corresponding to running 10km at high speed on...
Standing desks don’t cut stroke, cardiac risk – Sydney study
Experts say that standing desks – billed as the ultimate antidote to sitting in front of a screen – don’t compensate for being inactive,...
Never too late to quit smoking – and live longer, US study finds
A team of researchers has said that smokers who give up cigarettes, even at 75, could be boosting their life expectancy, and that it’s...
US study flags high vitamin D deficiency rates
Nearly a quarter of the US population is estimated to have a deficiency in vitamin D, particularly black women aged 20 to 29, according to data...
Clinicians urged to routinely ask teens if they use muscle-building supplements
Primary care, family medicine and mental health clinicians should ask every adolescent and young adult they care for if they take muscle-building supplements such...
Walking style gives clues about your health, says expert
Walking requires a huge number of signals between your brain and the muscles in your arms, chest, back, abdomen, pelvis and legs, and, writes...
Rise in global deaths from physical inactivity – WHO report
Deaths resulting from low physical activity in South Africa almost tripled over 30 years, according to a new WHO report, which warns that a...
Walking staves off lower back pain for longer – Australian study
People who regularly have lower back pain go longer without the discomfort if they incorporate walks into their weekly routines, researchers suggested after the...
What's best? US study compares step-counting to timed workouts
A large US study has looked at whether physical exercise or the goal of reaching a daily step count has a better impact on...
Even moderate exercise adds years to life – Discovery study
In reassuring news for those whose schedules don’t allow them to exercise vigorously on a daily basis, recent research has found that walking 5 000...
'Robust' link between insomnia and energy drinks – Norwegian study
Poor quality sleep and insomnia have been linked to the consumption of energy drinks among college students, according to researchers, who suggested that their...
Why all physical activity is not equally beneficial
For optimal health, regular physical activity (PA) is recommended to protect against dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other non-communicable diseases – yet experts suggest...
Under 5 000 daily steps still beneficial, say experts
A recent study has found that it is not necessary to do a daily plod of 10 000 steps to stay fit and healthy,...
Sitting eight hours a day linked to increased health risks – Latin American study
A study of almost 8 000 people found that becoming overweight or obese, and an increased risk of chronic disease, are the potential consequences...
Creatine supplements may have wider benefits than thought
Creatine is among the most well-researched and most popular nutritional supplements for exercise and athletic performance, but recent research suggests there’s much more to...
Short walks could halve premature death risk – Spanish study
A study of more than 3 300 physically inactive people found that those who changed their habits saw a significant reduction in mortality.
Spanish scientists...
US study shows how fat can actually be healthy
Recent research has found that being physically active alters fat at a molecular level in ways that improve the fat’s health.
The findings have broad...
Weekly weightlifting might boost longevity – US study
It’s never too late to start lifting weights, according to a recent study, which found that adding weightlifting to your exercise regime, even in...
Walking faster more beneficial than walking further – Australian cohort study
While 10 000 steps a day is considered the golden standard to improve health, as few as 3 800 steps per day has benefits,...
Green tea extract promotes gut health, lowers blood sugar – Ohio study
Research in people with a cluster of heart disease risk factors has shown that drinking green tea extract for four weeks reduces blood sugar...
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) burns more fat – Australia study
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is worth considering if “that stubborn body fat isn’t going away”, according to a study which found that HIIT increases...
Weekend exercise enough to stay fit – decade-long US cohort study
Good news for those who are desk-bound during the week and can only exercise on weekends: a US study has discovered that a big...
Experts believe name change may diminish stigma of schizophrenia
The term schizophrenia carries an incredible load. It is not just a moniker for a serious mental condition but also a tool to support...