https://medicalxpress.com/fitness-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Fitness & Physical Activity Could the smell of chocolate wafting through the gym make strength training easier, or at least more pleasant? A new Frontiers in Physiology study found that sniffing dark chocolate with a high cocoa content decreased feelings of hunger, desire and intention to eat, and left trainees feeling fuller. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-dark-chocolate-leg-workout-easier.html Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:01 EDT news702711172 People with severe obesity who exercise regularly have healthier blood vessels and lower inflammation than those who rely on medication alone, a new study from the University of Copenhagen shows. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-weight-loss-cardiovascular-health-medication.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:20:04 EDT news702724331 Male runners may be twice as likely as female runners to suddenly slow down—known as "hitting the wall"—during a marathon, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that men may be able to reduce this risk by starting races more slowly and speeding up throughout the race. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-men-slower-wall-marathons.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:40:04 EDT news702221101 Each additional hour of prolonged, uninterrupted sedentary behavior in a person's day is associated with a 9% higher risk of cancer death, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine by Frederick Ho of the University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-bouts-linked-cancer.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:02 EDT news702204481 A large-scale analysis by an international research team, led by Bochum University of Applied Sciences, shows that nonsurgical treatments such as massage, exercise therapy or acupuncture for chronic back pain can alleviate symptoms—but usually only for a few weeks. Clinically significant improvements do not persist in the long term. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-treatments-chronic-pain-short-term.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:20:08 EDT news702128500 New University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research shows that head injury data collected from smart mouthguards is run through a model that does not account for people of different sexes, ages and sizes. Taking a one-size-fits-all approach to analyzing data from smart mouthguards may mean serious injuries are missed, the study shows. The findings are published in the Journal of Biomechanics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-size-smart-mouthguard-overlook-rugby.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:00:12 EDT news701970061 A biodegradable pressure sensor could help people with knee injuries exercise and heal faster, University of Connecticut researchers report in Science Advances. The knee can take a great deal of abuse, thanks to the cartilage that cushions it. But if it's not moved and exercised enough, the knee stiffens and has poor blood flow. The cartilage can degrade or tear, worsening any injury already there. So people with injured knees have to move in order to heal. The challenge is knowing how much exercise or movement is too much. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-wireless-biodegradable-sensor-knees-dangerous.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:06 EDT news701965381