https://medicalxpress.com/fitness-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Fitness & Physical Activity Vitamin D is important for the body to function properly: it balances the immune system, helps to keep bones healthy and benefits muscle regeneration. Yet, 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient. This is the case in winter particularly, as UVB rays barely reach Earth's surface. In fact, the body produces 80% of this type of vitamin through solar radiation (the remainder comes from the diet). Given this, and considering the physiological functions of vitamin D, the effect it might have on both health and physical performance when taken as a supplement has kindled interest. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-air-ally-combat-winter-vitamin.html Thu, 21 May 2026 19:40:04 EDT news698593862 Competing in esports, also known as electronic sports, can mean training for several hours a day in front of a screen. Whether people participate in video game competitions at the professional or amateur level, they face physical and cognitive demands. Jane Konidis, M.D., a physiatrist and director of Gaming and Esports Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, shares tips to protect your health, whether you're using a video game console, computer, or smartphone for esports activities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-health-esports-circuit-competitive-video.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:20:06 EDT news698582641 Researchers have worked out how girls' sweating patterns change as they grow, establishing that the age of 14 is a critical turning point. Their findings can inform better sportswear designs for teenagers, and be used to encourage more teenage girls to take part in sport. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-patterns-girls-older.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:16 EDT news698582582 Teenagers who see exercise as fun, social and good for their health are significantly fitter by late adolescence than those driven by competition, pressure or fear of judgment, new research led by Flinders University shows. Tracking more than 1,000 young people from age 14 to 17, researchers found early attitudes to physical activity strongly predict measurable aerobic fitness three years later. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-teen-attitudes-years.html Thu, 21 May 2026 10:40:06 EDT news698577421 A new study by researchers in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) has demonstrated that a standard heat tolerance test does not work equally well to measure tolerance in males and females. This research was published in Physiological Reports. This work was led by Jacob Bowie, Ph.D., a UConn postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Elaine Choung-Hee Lee, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology, and in collaboration with Douglas Casa, Ph.D., Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology and CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-tolerance-account-sex-differences.html Thu, 21 May 2026 10:01:43 EDT news698575922 A number of previous studies have shown that young male endurance athletes and young men in general with high fitness levels appear to have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation later in life compared to non-athletes and those with low fitness levels. But to what extent is this true? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-men-smaller-atrial-fibrillation-heart.html Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:10 EDT news698515922 A new study offers clues as to why exercise can improve neurological symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, led by investigators from Mass General Brigham and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), examined levels of the exercise hormone irisin in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-hormone-irisin-neuroprotective-effects-multiple.html Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:01 EDT news698498222 Cutting recess doesn't just shortchange kids on playtime. A Syracuse University researcher says it can have real consequences for their health and development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-school-recess-health-necessity-reward.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:20:10 EDT news698486402 Vigorous physical activity promotes lung growth in children, but these benefits are reduced by ozone pollution, according to new research presented at the ATS 2026 International Conference. The findings suggest that the health benefits of exercising at levels recommended by the World Health Organization may be limited by environmental conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-ozone-pollution-limits-lung-benefits.html Wed, 20 May 2026 08:20:04 EDT news698399041 Using female zebrafish as a model, researchers have found that aerobic exercise may influence various connections in the body to lessen the damaging health impacts of environmental nanoplastics. In the study, published in The FASEB Journal, adult female zebrafish were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 21 days, with or without moderate aerobic exercise. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-aerobic-lessen-health-effects-exposure.html Wed, 20 May 2026 03:00:04 EDT news698339750 A text-messaging intervention can improve patient activation and cardiovascular risk behaviors in adults with psoriasis, according to a study published online May 13 in JAMA Dermatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-text-messages-aid-cardiovascular-adults.html Tue, 19 May 2026 20:40:02 EDT news698413607 Adults should aim to do between 560 and 610 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity to achieve a substantial reduction in the risk of heart attacks and stroke, suggest the findings of an observational study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-real-heart-weekly-climbs-current.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:30:03 EDT news698407441 Creatine, one of the most popular supplements among gym-goers and athletes, does not appear to have the anti-inflammatory effect that many imagine. This conclusion comes from a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Brazil by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP), which evaluated clinical trials in humans. The study indicates that, to date, there is no consistent evidence that creatine reduces inflammatory markers in the body. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-creatine-physical-necessarily-inflammation.html Mon, 18 May 2026 19:40:03 EDT news698343182 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which has just been renamed Polyendocrine Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), is the most common hormonal and metabolic disorder affecting women of reproductive age, impacting up to 13% of this population and contributing to nearly 40% of infertility cases worldwide. The condition is marked by a complex combination of hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation, often leading to irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain and increased cardiovascular and diabetes risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-polyendocrine-metabolic-syndrome-doesnt-menopause.html Mon, 18 May 2026 09:40:07 EDT news698315522 New research presented at the 2026 ATS International Conference shows that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) significantly improves functioning and quality of life in children with chronic respiratory conditions, regardless of whether lung function itself improves. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-pediatric-pulmonary-rehab-ability-quality.html Sun, 17 May 2026 15:30:01 EDT news698053141 Tougher regulation on peptide supplies is needed as illegal use skyrockets among young Australians, University of Queensland researchers say. Dr. Timothy Piatkowski, of UQ's School of Public Health, said the country's regulatory and health systems are failing to keep up with a surge in illegal peptide use in young people—a wellness craze fueled by social media. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-stronger-peptide-craze.html Sat, 16 May 2026 20:30:02 EDT news697718154 Every day, millions of Americans open a fitness app, glance at their step count, and may even feel a mild pang of guilt before closing it again. The problem with most health tracking technology is that it watches your activity, but it doesn't really know you. A research initiative out of Stanford University School of Medicine is betting that the difference between an app people ignore and one that actually changes behavior comes down to a simple idea: the right message, for the right person, at the right moment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-ai-rewrites-cardiovascular.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:00:05 EDT news697800797 As worsening air quality and wildfire events increasingly impact communities worldwide, a study recognized by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a 2025 Paper of the Year is drawing attention to a growing but often overlooked threat to athletes and active individuals: the impact of air pollution on performance, health, and safety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-air-pollution-athletic-health.html Sat, 16 May 2026 09:30:01 EDT news697890507 Legendary 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus once stated golf was "90% mental and 10% physical." That's because, unlike most other ball sports, a golfer spends most of the time thinking about their game instead of actually playing it: the contact time a player has with the ball is minuscule compared to the time spent planning the next shot, or frustratedly replaying a previous wonky hit. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-yips-sport.html Sat, 16 May 2026 05:40:01 EDT news697972255 Obesity and dietitian societies have joined forces to issue a new consensus statement on recommendations surrounding the use of obesity drugs for weight loss treatment. The consensus statement was presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey, and co-authored by lead author Dr. Laurence Dobbie, Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, UK as part of an international team of 26 authors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-obesity-guidance-urges-dietitian-glp.html Fri, 15 May 2026 20:00:01 EDT news698046076 A supplement widely promoted for athletic performance may interfere with some of the heart's beneficial adaptations to exercise, according to new Dalhousie University research published in Scientific Reports. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-popular-workout-supplement-blunt-heart.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:01 EDT news698064661 Sebastian Sawe ripped open a carbohydrate gel sachet and slurped it five minutes before the start of the 2026 London Marathon. Sixty minutes later, he inhaled another one before smashing through the two-hour marathon barrier. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-energy-gels-runners.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:01:38 EDT news698054461 New research from orthopedic specialists at Marshall Health Network and the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine demonstrates promising outcomes for patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using an advanced technique that combines biologic augmentation with internal stabilization. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-acl-surgery-approach-patients.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:20:01 EDT news697992908 U.S. teens report far less anabolic steroid use than they did two decades ago, but creatine use has risen rapidly in recent years, according to a new University of Michigan study. Combined with declining perceptions of steroid harm and slightly softer disapproval of steroid use, the findings suggest teens may be growing more accepting of muscle-enhancing products, including legal supplements and potentially steroids. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-steroid-falls-creatine-climbs-rapidly.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:18:39 EDT news697983482 The "talk test" is often used as a low-tech way to measure exercise intensity: If you can easily talk or even sing, your workout is fairly light, but if conversation is difficult, you are exercising vigorously. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-voice-youre-exerting-effort-machines.html Thu, 14 May 2026 11:10:01 EDT news697883138 Menstruation is once again a hot topic on social media, thanks to a new health trend known as "cycle syncing." It involves aligning your diet and exercise habits to each phase of your menstrual cycle. For example, you may only do gentle exercises such as yoga or eat more fermented foods during the first phase of menstruation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-syncing-affect-menstruation.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:21:19 EDT news697969201 Serious knee injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures in women's and girls' football, can be reduced through using injury prevention training, according to a new study by La Trobe University researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-injury.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:39:02 EDT news697966682 University of California, Irvine researchers have invented a wearable, wireless, battery-free, bioelectronic sensor to monitor users' health by analyzing molecular biomarkers in human sweat. The device is called the In-Situ Regeneratable, Environmentally Stable, Multimodal, Wireless, Wearable Molecular Sweat Sensing System, or IREM-W2MS3, and is described in a study published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-wearable-sensor-multiple-biomarkers-days.html Wed, 13 May 2026 15:51:33 EDT news697906218 You've just finished a workout, lungs burning, heart pumping, and you feel energized and ready to take on the day. That's your brain rewarding you with a hit of dopamine—the feel-good hormone that exercise is known to trigger. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-generosity.html Wed, 13 May 2026 12:47:37 EDT news697895221 Children benefit in both body and mind when they participate in after-school sports, a new study says. Kids in after-school sports show measurable advantages in brainpower, mental health and physical fitness, researchers reported in the journal Exercise, Sports and Movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-school-sports-boon-children-teens.html Tue, 12 May 2026 21:20:01 EDT news697793786