Improving diet and increasing physical activity levels together may be more effective at preventing weight gain – particularly harmful fat inside the abdomen – than just changing one of these behaviours, new research from the University of Cambridge suggests. An analysis of changes in physical activity and diet quality in UK adults found that while…
Sleep tracking is one of the big selling points of the Apple Watch, and it does it very well. Out of the box, it’s got just about everything you need: sleep goals, wind-downs before bed, detailed information on nightly wake-ups, information on REM periods, and everything in between. Statistics over time give you a good…
A study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology reveals the negative behavioral and psychological consequences of commercial fitness apps reported by users on social media. These impacts may undermine the potential of apps to promote health and wellbeing. When investigators used artificial intelligence (AI) using a method called Machine-Assisted Topic Analysis (MATA), which…
A large umbrella review finds that app- and wearable-based interventions can spark small yet meaningful improvements in kids’ activity, diet, and weight, offering scalable digital pathways to healthier habits. Review: Lifestyle eHealth and mHealth Interventions for Children and Adolescents: Systematic Umbrella Review and Meta–Meta-Analysis. Image Credit: Elizaveta Galitckaia / Shutterstock In a recent study published…
A new review in Clinical Epigenetics synthesises growing evidence that paternal lifestyle and environmental exposures such as diet, obesity, smoking, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and stress alter sperm epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, histone retention, and small non-coding RNAs). These changes can influence sperm quality and fertilising ability, early embryo development, assisted reproduction outcomes, and long-term health risks…
An estimated 7.2 million Americans over age 65 currently live with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). That number is expected to nearly double to 13.8 million by 2060. These increases reflect more than demographic shifts; they point to a growing public health crisis that requires a new, proactive approach. While chronological age is the strongest known risk…
A Mediterranean-style diet, in combination with reduced caloric intake, moderate physical activity, and professional support for weight loss, may cut the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study will be published August 25, 2025, in the Annals…
Mental health services must urgently increase investment in lifestyle interventions to improve care and help close the 15-year life expectancy gap faced by people with mental illness, a new Lancet Psychiatry Commission report warns. Lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity, nutrition, sleep and smoking are key to mental health care, not optional extras, according to the…
As we grow older, it’s natural for the body to change – and the brain is no exception. After the age of 60, many people notice that their memory isn’t as sharp, learning new things takes longer, and decision-making can become harder. This is known as cognitive decline, and it’s something more and more people…
Adults with poor Life’s Essential 8 scores faced significantly higher atrial fibrillation risk, suggesting that heart-healthy habits could be key to preventing this common arrhythmia. Study: Association of life’s essential 8 score with incidence of atrial fibrillation: The Framingham heart study. Image Credit: Magic mine / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the American Journal of…