Fitness

If there weren't enough reasons obesity is bad, research shows that staying obese could accelerate memory loss. But now a new study from the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University says that losing this weight, either through weight loss surgery or exercise, could reverse rapid memory decline. Published in the The Journal of Neuroscience, researcher Dr. Alexis M. Stranahan says that belly fat specifically is likely the cause of these memory defects. "These obese diabetic mice have very…
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Hate working out? Turns out a favorite intimate activity may be just as effective as a 30 minute bout of moderate exercise. Reporting in the health journal PLoS One, researchers say that just 20 minutes of sexual intercourse is comparable to a similar session on the treadmill--and as an added bonus burns a considerable amount of calories as well. "Sex can be considered, at times, a significant exercise, worth encouraging in people who otherwise baulk at working out," says Antony…
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Hate aerobic exercise? Well here's a new reason to make it a habit--doing so could prevent blindness, according to a new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience. The study, which looked at how treadmill running affected the ability of rodents to see properly, found that regular bouts of aerobic exercise prevented retina damage--a leading precursor of blindness. Machelle Pardue, Ph.D., who headed the research, says that this finding shows just how important exercise is. "This is the first report…
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Want to live longer? Sure, anyone does--but cancer survivors especially want to lengthen the healthy years they have left. And now a new study published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health says there's one easy way to live longer after cancer: Exercise regularly. The study, which was led by researcher Kathleen Y. Wolin, found that cancer survivors who stayed physically active with aerobic sports were nearly 50 percent more likely to live longer than those who did little…
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It's every person's worst nightmare: A sudden, unexpected stroke. Yet every year, that's a reality for 795,000 people, a leading killer of older adults in the United States. For many Americans, preventing it isn't easy either--especially if the condition is genetic. But now a new study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference says there may be a new way to lower a woman's risk by as much as 20 percent. The solution? Moderate physical activity. "The effects…
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To lose weight, most experts say it's simple: Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. But according to researchers from Sydney University, you may not need to exercise at all. Reporting in the journal Cell Metabolism, scientists say people exposed to a temperature below 59F for just 15 minutes experience hormonal changes equivalent to an hour of moderate exercise, as well as the creation of brown fat, a fat shown to increase a person's metabolism. "Our results showed that moderate…
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When it comes to losing weight, nutritionists say eating a diet rich in vitamins does the body a lot of good. Yet, if you plan to exercise, doing so may not be a good idea, according to recent research from Norway. Studying a total of 54 adults, researchers found that those who took vitamin C and E supplements prevented the increase of mitochondrial proteins--something which commonly increases during endurance training. Now experts say you should consider cutting your vitamin intake…
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Feel stressed out by your work and family life? New research from scientists in Florida say there may be a new way to cope with it--by doing more aerobic exercise. The research, slated to be published in the journal Human Resource Management later this year, found that those who exercised regularly felt more empowered when it came to family and work, improving their self esteem. "We found that [participants] who exercised felt good about themselves, that they felt that they…
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