Fitness

While a previous study showed that men who exercised while eating more during the holidays kept a healthier metabolism, the same story doesn't fare as well for women, according to a new study from Texas Tech University. Following more than 100 participants during the holiday season--between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve--researchers found that those who exercised still gained weight, a factor that may lead to obesity down the road, says researcher Jamie Cooper. "That means holiday weight gain could be…
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With the holidays approaching, there's no doubt many people are concerned about keeping their weight in check--and a new study published in the Journal of Physiology says there now is an easy way to do it. According to the research, which was conducted at the University of Bath in England, getting in a healthy bout of exercise--even if you're overindulging--may ward off the ill consequences of sudden holiday binges, such as increased blood pressure and a poorer metabolism. Unfortunately, it…
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When it comes to working out, researchers say cardio and strength training are best--but now a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Autonomic Neuroscience says simply watching someone work out could get you fitter. Reporting from the University of Western Sydney in Australia, researcher Vaughan Macefield says that simply watching a video of someone working out raises muscle sympathetic nerve activity--activity which normally increases while working out. It's a strange bit of news, to say the very least.…
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Want to age well? Turns out there's one easy way to ensure a better quality of life as you reach your senior years, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine: Exercise regularly. According to the research, which was first reported by Medical Xpress on November 25, seniors who sustained "regular physical activity" for a period of four years were more likely to experience healthy aging, a term used to described good mental health as…
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"Eating for two" is a common phrase many women take to heart while pregnant, but new research from the University of Montreal says that carrying too much weight during pregnancy could affect your child in the worst way--by making your child dumber. The study, which was presented at the Neuroscience 2013 meeting in San Diego, California, studied newborns whose brains were examined using electrode devices--and found that women who stayed in shape had babies with more active brains. "Accumulating evidence…
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According to fitness experts, it's expected to be 2014's biggest workout trend--but it's a trend that has them worried. Called high intensity interval exercise, this new exercise movement has become popular thanks to home workout programs such as P90X, Insanity, and Crossfit. And it's expected to only become bigger once the new year arrives. "We’ve never seen something be introduced to the market and catch on so fast," says Walt Thompson, regents' professor of kinesiology at George State University, who…
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For older women, insomnia is a huge concern--but instead of relying on sleeping pills to get you through the night, researchers say you're better off exercising. But it's when you exercise that matters most, say researchers from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "It’s like doing a brisk walk," says Anne McTiernan, researcher of the study. "Nobody is saying people have to be athletes and do marathons." The Study in Detail Working on a study examining the effects of exercise on…
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As we get older, the importance of regular exercise continues to be recommended by doctors and nutritionists alike--yet many of us would rather veg out on the couch than get in a good workout. But now a new study says there may be another reason to stay physically active--it could improve your memory. Reporting in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, researchers say that aerobic exercise helps improve brain and cognitive function in older adults. "Physical exercise may be one…
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Although women are encouraged to exercise before, during, and after pregnancy, research shows that most women aren't getting their 30 daily minutes of exercise. But now a new study shows that mothers may be missing out on an important benefit when they skip exercise. Presenting their research at the Society for Neuroscience 2013 Conference in San Diego earlier this month, researchers found that pregnant women who exercised for at least 60 minutes per week gave birth to newborns who had…
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Although most experts agree that battling breast cancer may be a woman's biggest ordeal, fighting it isn't the only problem--the long term consequences it has on a woman's body, hair, and bones can also be devastating. For instance, breast cancer can make a woman's bones brittle, putting them at an increased risk for bone fractures and osteopenia. But now a new study presented at the American Institute for Cancer Research says there's a new way to combat bone loss caused…
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