It’s no secret that physical activity leads to a healthier, longer life. But for those over, or at least getting close to the hill, this is especially true, a new study suggests. 

Researchers working with the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that low physical activity (PA) is tied to increased mortality. The researchers used a predictive model based on device-measured PA risk estimates and a life-table model analysis to establish results. The life table used included 2019 United States population and 2017 mortality data. Participants were 40 years or older with PA levels based on data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. 

The study discovered that if all individuals were as active as the top 25% of the population, Americans over the age of 40 could live an extra 5.3 years on average. Dr. Mary Njeri Wanjau, who worked on the project, called the five-year figure “whopping” while referring to it on social media. 

The trial also saw individuals in the lowest activity quartile experience the largest bump in lifetime per hour through PA as simple as walking. An additional hour of doing so could add roughly 6.3 hours of life expectancy, per the report. 

While notable, these findings follow what we’ve heard from the industry at large, specifically regarding older individuals. Another study earlier this year found that weight training can offer long-term health benefits for individuals of a “retirement age.” While 40 is a long way from senior citizenry, an additional study also found that HIIT may improve cognitive health for those aged 65 to 86. 

The British Journal of Sports Medicine also recently discovered a link between high cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced risk of Dementia. It published other findings this year from the University of Sydney explaining how a few minutes of vigorous, incidental PA a day can significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in middle-aged women who don’t engage in structured exercise.

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A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that nine out of 22 fitness tracker and smartwatch bands tested contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals.”

The research, conducted by the University of Notre Dame, analyzed both new and used watchbands purchased in the U.S. across various brands and price points, categorizing them as “inexpensive” (priced at $15 or less), “midrange” ($15 to $30) and “expensive” (over $30).

The findings showed that many of the smartwatch bands were made with fluoroelastomers, a synthetic material used by wearable brands for its resistance to sweat and skin oils – an ideal material for active individuals and daily smartwatch users, but carrying a potential health issue.

While nine of the 22 bands were shown to contain elevated levels of a PFAS called perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), interestingly, bands with the highest levels were more prevalent among higher-priced band options. 

“The most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFAS — there were some samples above 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products,” study co-author and professor emeritus Graham Peaslee said.

The concern, Peaslee and his team say, is that the chemicals can migrate, leading to inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Forever chemicals – which have been found in more than smart bands — are worrisome, experts say, for their association to health issues such as an increased risk of certain cancers, immunosuppression, hormonal dysregulation and developmental delays in children.

For its part, the University of Notre Dame has made it a mission to tackle forever chemicals by studying their impact and exploring treatment methods. 

As Alyssa Wicks, a graduate student and the study’s lead author points out, few studies have been published regarding the dermal absorption of PFAS.

“One article published earlier this year by a European research group found that a couple types of PFAS had significant transfer through the skin,” Wicks said. “That initial study only examined around 20 of the 14,000 known types of PFAS, and more studies are needed to better understand how PFAS travel through the skin.”

Ultimately, the authors note that their findings suggest a more comprehensive study is needed to test the levels of PFAS in bands.

In the meantime, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers some solutions for those concerned, such as opting for bands made from silicone and free of fluoroelastomers, limiting wear time and demanding safer alternatives from smart watch and fitness tracker manufacturers.

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The negative impact of consuming highly processed foods is quickly becoming well-documented, and a new study suggests such a diet could also compromise muscle quality and increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

The study examined the link between ultra-processed food, or UPF, consumption – such as packaged snacks, frozen pizza, soft drinks, energy drinks, candies and ready-to-eat meals – and intramuscular fat in the thigh. Researchers analyzed data from 666 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a nationwide study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that seeks to better understand how to prevent and treat knee osteoarthritis.

Based on imaging, the participants (455 men and 211 women with an average age of 60) were not yet affected by osteoarthritis. The participants, on average, were classified as overweight with a body mass index of 27, and roughly 40% of the foods they had consumed in the past year were ultra-processed.

According to Zehra Akkaya, M.D., a researcher and former Fulbright Scholar in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco, this is the first imaging study to explore the relationship between MRI-based skeletal muscle quality and dietary patterns.

Ultimately, the researchers discovered that the more ultra-processed foods that were consumed, the more intramuscular fat participants had in their thigh muscles, regardless of caloric intake.

“In an adult population at risk for but without knee or hip osteoarthritis, consuming ultra-processed foods is linked to increased fat within the thigh muscles,” Dr. Akkaya said. “These findings held true regardless of dietary energy content, BMI, sociodemographic factors, or physical activity levels.”

The findings were presented earlier this month at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“Research from our group and others has previously shown that quantitative and functional decline in thigh muscles is potentially associated with onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis,” Dr. Akkaya said. “On MRI images, this decline can be seen as fatty degeneration of the muscle, where streaks of fat replace muscle fibers.”

Dr. Akkaya also noted that osteoarthritis is not just an increasingly prevalent issue, but one that is costly on a global scale.

“It is the largest contributor to non-cancer-related health care costs in the U.S. and around the world,” Dr. Akkaya said. “Since this condition is highly linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices, there are potential avenues for lifestyle modification and disease management.”

In addition to their potential impact on muscle quality, ultra-processed foods have been demonstrated to be highly addictive, with one Lifesum survey this year revealing that one in six U.S. employees considers themselves hooked on UPFs.

Dr. Casey Means, Levels co-founder and an outspoken critic of highly processed foods, advocates that a clean diet that is rich in nutritious foods plays a massive role in the prevention and reversal of metabolic health conditions.     

“We are absolutely missing the forest for the trees in the health and longevity conversation — so focused on the margins and on products,” Dr. Means told Athletech News in June. “When, in fact, we can get most of the way there by targeting simple elements of our diet and lifestyle towards what actually matters.”

“The average American is eating 70% of their calories from ultra-processed food — step one is literally just making that towards eating real, unprocessed food,” she added.

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Sleep is a cornerstone of wellness, impacting everything from recovery to mental clarity. The National Sleep Foundation reports that 35% of all adults in the U.S. sleep less than the recommended 7 hours per night. Now, a new study offers a simple yet effective strategy that personal trainers can use to help their clients enhance sleep duration: adding quick bursts of bodyweight strength moves before bedtime.

Published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, the study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating regular short bouts of bodyweight resistance exercises in the evening to improve sleep duration in healthy adults. Conducted by a team from the University of Otago, the research explored whether breaking up prolonged sitting in the evening with brief exercise sessions could positively impact sleep quantity and quality.

Sit or Move at Night?

To ensure the results were as accurate as possible, the study followed a standardized intervention protocol. Participants adhered to a strict diet on experimental days, consuming standardized meals before 2:00 PM. Fitted with ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers, participants wore these devices on their non-dominant wrists from the morning of the intervention day until 48 hours after, allowing the researchers to continuously monitor physical activity and sleep patterns.

The study was designed as a randomized crossover trial and involved 28 participants, most of whom were women, with an average age of 25.6 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.5 kg/m². Each participant experienced two distinct 4-hour scenarios, both beginning at around 5:00 pm, on separate evenings.

In the first scenario, participants remained seated for the entire 4-hour period, mimicking a typical evening of prolonged sitting. In the second scenario, participants’ sitting was interrupted every 30 minutes with a 3-minute session of bodyweight resistance exercises, including chair squats, calf raises, and standing knee raises with straight leg hip extensions. 

These exercises were performed in sequence, with each exercise lasting 20 seconds, repeated over three rounds, guided by a time-standardized video that ensured consistency and proper form.

Once these sessions concluded, participants returned to their normal routines. Their sleep was then tracked using the accelerometers and sleep diaries, providing valuable data on their sleep patterns and quality.

Impact on Sleep

The researchers focused on the secondary outcomes of the study, examining how the evening interventions influenced participants’ sleep and physical activity. They found that those who took regular breaks for bodyweight resistance exercises in the evening saw a modest yet statistically significant increase in their sleep duration. On average, these participants enjoyed an additional 29.3 minutes of total sleep time, with the actual time spent asleep increasing by about 27.7 minutes.

While sleep duration improved, other aspects of sleep quality—such as sleep efficiency, the time spent awake after initially falling asleep, and the number of times participants woke up during the night—remained largely unchanged compared to the nights of prolonged sitting. 

Additionally, these brief evening exercises didn’t seem to significantly impact participants’ physical activity levels in the 24 to 48 hours following the intervention. The results suggested that these simple activity breaks could extend sleep time without disrupting the overall sleep experience or daily routines.

“Given the current sleep hygiene guidelines, we were surprised to see such a positive impact on sleep,” said lead study author Jennifer Gale, a doctoral student of human nutrition at the University of Otago.

These findings suggest that integrating brief resistance exercise sessions into clients’ evening routines could be a simple, effective strategy to enhance sleep duration without negatively impacting sleep quality. This approach could be particularly useful for individuals with sedentary lifestyles who may benefit from improved sleep as part of a holistic approach to health and wellness.

However, while the results are promising, several limitations should be considered. The research only examined the effects of a single evening intervention, leaving the long-term impact of regular evening exercise breaks on sleep unclear. Additionally, the relatively small sample size and specific demographic—predominantly young women—limit the generalizability of the findings to a broader population.

The study focused exclusively on bodyweight resistance exercises, suggesting that future research could explore the effects of different types of physical activity, such as aerobic or stretching exercises, on sleep outcomes. More research is needed to understand the long-term implications and to explore the potential benefits across different populations and exercise modalities.

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It’s universally known that eating healthy is beneficial for many reasons, from experiencing an increased quality of life to maintaining a well-functioning cardiovascular system. According to a new study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, an added benefit may include an increased life span of up to six to ten years, provided you’re eating the right types of foods.  

Originally published in April, the study is titled, “Life expectancy gains from dietary modifications: a comparative modeling study in 7 countries,” and was included in the AJCN’s July issue. 

The study’s researchers acknowledged that while they had done a previous similar study, it hadn’t taken subjects’ height, weight or physical activity into consideration. They adjusted this study in consideration of those factors and examined a range of participants from the United States, China, France, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom. 

Using publicly available data sources, the team studied individuals who had transitioned from typical country-specific dietary patterns to a “longevity-optimized” diet, a more “feasible dietary change” or an “optimized vegan” diet. 

Specifically, the team examined the intake of fifteen food groups: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, eggs, milk/dairy, refined grains, red meat, processed meat, white meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, added sugar in foods and added oils. 

What Is a ‘Longevity-Optimized’ Diet?

Unlike a typical Western diet, a longevity-optimized diet includes more whole grains, legumes, and nuts with decreased amounts of red or processed meats, sugars, and sugar-sweetened beverages, the researchers noted.

Specifically, a longevity-optimized diet incorporates seven whole grain servings, five vegetable servings, and five fruit servings per day.

Life expectancy gains, or the number of additional years added to a subject’s life, ranged among the study’s participants from 4 to 11.3 years, depending on their age and which of the three dietary change methods they undertook.

In the case of 40-year-old subjects who switched to a longevity-optimized diet, the estimated life expectancy gains ranged on average from 6.2 years to 9.7 years. For subjects of optimized vegan dietary changes, additional life expectancy ranged on average from 5.2 to 8.7 years. 

A diet change even at age 60 can increase life expectancy gains, with data showing that in the United States and the United Kingdom, a longevity-optimized diet can add up to seven years for people in older age groups. 

In the study, subjects who made the more “feasible” dietary changes ate a diet considered around halfway between a typical Western and a longevity-optimized diet. Even making these smaller changes affected life expectancy gains, adding up to five years for subjects at age 40. 

Overall, the study made one thing clear: increasing the intake of whole grains and legumes and decreasing the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is beneficial to life expectancy. Some individuals might even add an extra decade to their lives if such changes are sustained.

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In the longevity game, health and wellness have evolved into more than just obtaining an ideal BMI; they’ve become tools to improve and extend mental acuity — and aerobic exercise and resistance training could be the keys to positive cognitive and executive functioning. 

Aging is inevitable for all, but one systematic review and meta-analysis — described by its authors as a comprehensive “one-stop shop” — has offered new insights into exercise’s impact on cognitive function and provides a new perspective for longevity-seekers.

Exercise is commonly recommended to boost cognitive function, but researchers say few meta-analyses have truly evaluated the cognitive advantages associated with variables such as exercise frequency, intensity, duration, type, volume and progression (FITT-VP) in healthy populations.

In their review, published in Ageing Research Reviews, researchers used PubMed and Web of Science to gather 54 randomized controlled trials with 6,277 participants (aged 6 to 60) to examine each FITT-VP variable’s effects on healthy individuals’ cognitive function, including executive function, memory, attention and information processing. 

The included 54 studies met the following criteria:

• The study was a randomized controlled trial with healthy participants to explore the effects of chronic exercise on cognitive function

• The interventions included any type of exercise training with supervision

• Control group participants received no intervention, usual care, health education, sham exercise training, or were on a waitlist for the study

• Studies had to report at least one cognitive outcome, which included global cognition, executive function, memory, attention or information processing

The key takeaway? Aerobic exercise performed with moderate duration, frequency, intensity and overall length was associated with the greatest improvement in global cognition, the authors found.

When it comes to improving executive functioning, researchers suggest that resistance training is better than aerobic exercise, although both modalities offer strong benefits.

Mind-body exercise (in this case, yoga and tai chi) with moderate duration, frequency and overall length but high intensity also showed benefits to memory, although the authors caution that the results assessing attention and information processing should be interpreted cautiously due to the low number of included studies. 

Perhaps most interesting is the finding that older participants benefited the most from exercise interventions — a point complemented by recent research on the powers of daily, low-intensity physical activity.

“This study offers new insights on the dose-response relationship of chronic exercise and the use of FITT-VP exercise principles to improve cognitive abilities or prevent cognitive decline in the process of aging,” the authors concluded. 

The longevity space continues to soar, with many emerging solutions and products that proponents say can slow down the ticking clock of age or, at the very least, support health in the present. From mushroom-powered drinks and gummies to enhance focus to GLP-1 and other weight loss management solutions to assisted stretching, analysts are bullish on the wellness boom.

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Just two hours of light-intensity physical activity per day can increase the chances of healthy aging by 6%, according to a new paper published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

You may have heard that sitting is the new smoking, but the findings — which used data from an extensive Nurses’ Health Study spanning 20 years — could have longevity-invested individuals trading Netflix for a stroll in the neighborhood. 

While it’s established that proper sleep and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with healthy aging, researchers sought to discover the associations of sedentary behaviors and light-intensity physical activity (LPA) with optimal aging. The study comprised over 45,000 female participants, all of whom were 50 years or older and free of major chronic disease in 1992. Data was then analyzed over a five-month period in 2022.

Participants’ habits were assessed during the course of the study, including the amount of time spent watching television, sitting at work and at home, and LPA, such as the time spent standing or walking around at home and at work, to determine the impact it had on healthy aging.

For the study, researchers defined healthy aging as surviving to at least 70 years without significant chronic diseases or impairment in memory, physical function or mental health — a milestone that the study’s authors state only 10% to 35% of older adults achieve.

More Movement, Less TV Time

By the numbers, the paper details that each increment of two hours per day of sitting and watching TV was associated with a 12% decrease in the likelihood of healthy aging, whereas each additional two hours of LPA per day correlated with a 6% increase in healthy aging. 

Interestingly, the authors discovered that among those who slept seven hours or less each day, substituting TV time with sleep also increased the likelihood of healthy aging. Ultimately, only 8.6% of women achieved healthy aging at the conclusion of the study, and while researchers determined that increased television watching reduced the odds of healthy aging, they suggest that swapping just one hour of tube time with either LPA or MVPA raises the odds of healthy aging.

“These findings complement previous evidence on the association between these behaviors and mortality, and provide important evidence for promoting active lifestyles for achieving optimal health at older ages,” wrote the study’s authors. 

Being advised to move more and sit less may not sound necessarily groundbreaking, but as the paper’s authors note, population aging is an important public health issue, considering 8.5% of the total population worldwide is 65 years and older — a number expected to increase to 20% by 2050. Aging, they point out, tends to be accompanied by a host of adverse health conditions, but identifying “modifiable factors” can inform helpful interventions as individuals age.  

Fitness Brands Target ‘Active Aging’ Community

While fitness and health brands are after the coveted Gen Z consumers, aware that they are intrigued by the longevity and wellness space, some in the industry are targeting mature consumers with programming designed just for them. 

Considering research has shown that just one year of heavy weightlifting can yield maintained strength four years later, staying active can be the ultimate low-hanging fruit when it comes to longevity practices.

Tonal, the smart home gym, has emphasized serving the ‘active aging’ demographic with safe and effective strength training programs, applauding their 55-plus users for being one of their more consistent groups when it comes to strength training week-to-week than other age groups.

Luxury fitness and lifestyle operator Life Time launched Arora in 2022, a program designed specifically for “baby boomers and beyond” and encompasses low-impact and exclusive programming across aqua, cardio, and strength modalities, along with pickleball, tennis, educational workshops and socialization opportunities. 

Digital platforms have also gained ground in the active aging space, with Mighty Health, an all-in-one exercise, nutrition, and daily health program serving those aged 50 and over. The platform raised $7.6 million last year and offers personalized coaching and lessons. 

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GLP-1s are making global headlines for their impressive weight-loss powers, but they might also be effective in helping people kick alcohol dependency.

A new study released by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine finds that the use of GLP-1 drugs is correlated with lower occurrences of alcohol abuse. 

In 2022, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 28.8 million United States adults aged 18 and older suffered from AUD, or alcohol use disorder in 2021. AUD is one of the leading causes of disease across the globe yet there are currently only three medications currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the disorder: acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone. However, the results for these drugs are “modest” and “inconsistent,” according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. 

Semaglutide, one of the medications within the class of GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, was shown to reduce the desire for binge-like and dependence-induced alcohol consumption in a rodent model in 2023. The researchers at Case Western decided to test this theory on people, publishing a retrospective cohort study of 83,825 patients with obesity.

GLP-1 drugs replicate the gut hormone GLP-1, which assists with insulin secretion and helps increase feelings of fullness after eating. While GLP-1s are typically prescribed to help treat diabetes, regulate blood sugar, and assist with weight loss, they have now been brought to the table as a possible treatment for alcohol abuse disorder. 

Dr. Lorenzo Leggio and Dr. Leandro Vendruscolo, the 2023 rat model study’s senior authors, said there are overlaps between overeating and substance use behaviors.

“Parts of the brain that drive eating behaviors overlap extensively with the drive to use alcohol or other substances,” Dr. Leggio said.

The Case Western researchers conducted their retrospective study from patient electronic health records and found that many individuals taking GLP-1s, specifically semaglutide, experienced reduced “incidence and recurrence” of alcohol use disorder. 

The team also took a look at patient records of 600,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes and discovered similar findings. Those treated with semaglutide experienced fewer AUD diagnoses. 

The study’s authors say that while the findings are consistent, there’s still more work to be done. 

“While the findings are promising and provide preliminary evidence of the potential benefit of semaglutide in AUD in real-world populations, further randomized clinical trials are needed to support its use clinically for AUD,”  said Case Western research professor Pamela Davis.

Still, Rong Xu, a professor of biomedical informatics at Case Western, notes that the studies are hopeful for individuals with alcohol use disorder. 

“This is very promising news in that we may have a new therapeutic method to treat AUD,” Xu said.

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In case there wasn’t enough already, the World Health Organization (WHO) has new evidence supporting the importance of physical activity, as well as our collective global failure to get enough of it.

A study conducted by researchers from the WHO and its academic colleagues published in The Lancet Global Health Journal found that 31% of adults, approximately 1.8 billion individuals, did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022. Those levels include either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or any sort of equivalent per week. 

Physical inactivity puts adults at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon, according to the WHO. 

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr. Rüdiger Krech, director of health promotion at WHO. “We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, considering factors like age, environment, and cultural background.”

Physical inactivity among adults increased by roughly 5% between 2010 and 2022, according to the study. Should that continue, levels of inactivity project to rise to 35% by 2030, taking things in an entirely different direction from the WHO’s global goal of establishing a 15% inactivity reduction by the same year. 

“These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease, and improve mental health and well-being through increased physical activity,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We must renew our commitment to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritizing bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend.”

The study found the highest rates of physical inactivity in the high-income Asia-Pacific region, clocking in at 48%, followed closely by South Asia at 45%.

It also found notable disparities with age and gender: the female inactivity rate of 34% exceeded that of males at 29%. The data also reflected people over 60 are less active than other adults, illustrating another missed opportunity in terms of battling sarcopenia, the age-induced loss of muscle and strength.

The study isn’t all doom and gloom, however. It also found that nearly half the world’s countries improved their inactivity rates over the past decade, and projects that 22 nations will reach the 15% reduction figure individually by 2030.

With the WHO still set on hitting that figure globally, it’s calling on all countries to fortify their physical activity-promoting policies, taking a particular look at community sports, active recreation and transportation. 

“We must renew our commitment to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritizing bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. 

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice,” added Dr. Fiona Bull, head of the WHO unit for physical activity. “It will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy to reap the many health benefits of regular physical activity.”

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Lifting weights, especially in retirement, can pay off.

Just one year of heavy resistance training at retirement age can result in maintained strength four years later, according to new research examining the long-term effects of resistance training in older adults.

Until this study, from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, the long-term effects of resistance training in older populations were largely unknown, the study’s authors said.

Researchers randomly assigned 451 retirement-age participants to one of three year-long programs: a supervised, machine-based, full-body heavy resistance training (HRT) program, a moderate-intensity program consisting of body weight-based circuit training and resistance bands three times a week, or a non-exercising control group. Those in the control group were encouraged to maintain regular physical activity levels.

The primary outcome measure was leg extensor power, followed by isometric leg strength and body composition.

Researchers found that those in the HRT program (mean age 71 years old) maintained baseline performance in isometric leg strength at their four-year assessment, while those in the moderate-intensity cohort returned to their baseline strength level after the completion of the study.

“Interestingly, leg muscle strength was maintained from baseline in HRT, indicating that among individuals who already seemed to have a high physical activity level but were previously resistance training naive, implementing resistance training with heavy loads for 1 year may at group-level induce long-term health effects,” the researchers wrote. “Considering that muscle strength has been shown to predict mortality in apparently healthy populations, these results may be of particular relevance.”

Strength Training for Longevity

Using strength training as a means to ward off sarcopenia — a decline in muscle mass, strength and function that is commonly associated with older populations — can help aging individuals preserve independence, balance and mobility, and improve resistance to injuries. 

In a podcast interview last week with former ESPN anchor Sage Steele, fitness guru Jillian Michaels discussed the benefits of ramping up fitness routines as the chronological clock ticks. 

“Not only would I not change your workout – if I were to make modifications, I would push the ‘up’ button,” Michaels said, adding that there isn’t a “different prescription” for fitness when you hit 50. 

The study’s findings can be a game-changer for fitness companies that are increasingly targeting older populations with strength-based training.

Smart home gym maker Tonal has created strength training workouts catering to the “active aging” population, with its AI-powered algorithm making it simple — and safe — for older users to lift the ideal amount. There is also a “spotter mode” in place that disengages weight if a user is struggling, helping to avoid strain or possible injuries. 

On the digital side, Mighty Health, an all-in-one exercise, nutrition, and daily health program, serves those 50 and up. Last year, the platform raised $7.6 million and offers personalized coaching and lessons. 

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It turns out that relaxing in a heated room may do more than offer a respite from the daily grind and soothe muscles — it could reduce the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. 

A new study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research and supported by the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research in Helsinki, Finland, analyzed data from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) cohort, which consisted of 2,682 middle-aged and older men aged 42 to 61 at the start of the investigation. 

Between March 1984 and December 1989, baseline assessments were conducted to assess sauna bathing habits, cardiorespiratory fitness levels, and other health factors. The group was then divided into two groups: those who used the sauna twice or less per week and those who used it three to seven times per week. They were also evaluated for cardiorespiratory fitness while exercising on a cycle ergometer, and they were followed for a median of 25 years to monitor the incidence of psychotic disorders.

Ultimately, researchers discovered that frequent sauna bathing was associated with a lower risk of psychosis, with participants who used the sauna three to seven times per week having a significantly lower risk (51%) of developing psychotic disorders than those who used it less frequently. 

Participants with high sauna use and medium-to-high fitness levels had the lowest risk of psychosis. However, even participants with high sauna use and low fitness levels still showed a substantial reduction in risk (74%), demonstrating that the sauna may provide more than heat but a balm for the brain. 

“Having frequent baths and high fitness levels (determined by regular physical activity) can each reduce the risk of mental health conditions such as psychosis,” Setor K. Kunutsor, one of the study’s co-authors, explained to PsyPost, adding that it appears frequent sauna baths might have more beneficial impact on mental health conditions than having high fitness levels.

“Given the wide-known health benefits associated with regular physical activity and high fitness levels, we expected high fitness levels to have more impact,” Kunutsor told the publication, indicating his surprise of the results.

The study’s authors note that their preliminary findings could lead to more in-depth research into the physiological and psychological mechanisms by which sauna bathing affects mental health.

Wellness studios offering infrared saunas and communal bathhouses have tapped into the ancient traditions of heat and added a modern twist as a place to unwind from the screen-based world.

Sauna House, a growing communal bathing franchise, offers clients a “digital detox,” while Othership, an immersive sauna and ice bath brand, intends to open locations in every city in North America. Wellness franchise Perspire Sauna Studio is expanding rapidly with 55 locations open and over 200 franchise licenses signed.

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Young adults who follow health and fitness influencers on Instagram engage in more vigorous exercise and consume more fruit and vegetables but also experience higher distress scores (depression, anxiety and negative mood) than non-followers, according to a new study.

The study, “Healthier But Not Happier? The Lifestyle Habits of Health Influencer Followers,” published in the Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, examined the lifestyle, health and social media habits of 1,022 individuals ranging in age from 18 to 25 across the U.S., the U.K. and New Zealand. The participants completed a survey in 2021 and the study primarily focused on the impacts of influencers on the highly popular social media app Instagram.

It could be one of the great paradoxes of modern times, considering worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, adolescent obesity has quadrupled and more than half of the world uses social media. 

Ultimately, the study demonstrates that followers of health influencers on social media may have some healthier behaviors than non-followers, but it comes at the cost of higher distress and well-being. As people look for ways to get healthy and source motivation, are wellness-focused Instagram users forced to choose between inspiration and gloom?

The Highs & Lows of Social Media

Instagram has catapulted fitness and wellness influencers such as Kayla Itsines, Mari Llewellyn and others to stardom (and entrepreneurship), giving them a platform to promote and monetize workouts, apps, activewear and supplements in front of a mostly female user audience, whom the study found to have a higher socioeconomic status and education level than non-followers. 

The power of social media is substantial — even Peloton has made a play to tap TikTok as a way to nab fitness-focused users while Pilates continues to gain traction with countless #PilatesPrincess videos.

Interestingly, the authors found that health influencer followers who engage in more vigorous physical activity (150 minutes a week) were associated with higher distress levels, in stark contrast to non-followers and those who don’t use Instagram. Similarly, distress rates were especially pronounced among social media users who follow food or diet-related health influencers.

Finding a Healthy Balance

The paper acknowledges that following health influencers can have some positive health benefits, such as motivating users to make healthier food choices or inspiring them to “self-improve,” but that certain drawbacks, such as some health influencers reinforcing the “fit-ideal” body type, can lead to compulsive exercise or healthy eating.

The authors cite previous research that shows exercising for health and well-being is associated with a more positive body image, as opposed to “appearance-related” motivations to work out, which tend to be associated with a low body image. 

Social media — especially Instagram — has come under fire in recent years for findings that link high usage with low self-esteem and poor mental health among young users. It’s a point that the study’s authors make, noting that there could be negative consequences from Instagram usage in general, rather than just following health influencers on Instagram. 

Nonetheless, the study’s preliminary findings indicate that following health influencers may disrupt the positive relationship between health behaviors and mental health.

Although additional research is invited, the study’s authors provide a concise answer to the question of whether following health influencers is beneficial or harmful to young adults:

“It may be both,” they wrote. “In summary, although (health influencer followers) are healthier physically, they may not be happier.”

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Two new studies underscore the beneficial effects that physical fitness has on mental health in children and adolescents – and its long-term impact into adulthood.

While it’s common knowledge that physical activity has benefits for the body and mind, two new studies show promise in using fitness to help solve the mental health crisis among adolescents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2021, more than 1 in 5 U.S. high school students seriously considered attempting suicide, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide.

One just-released study, “Physical Fitness and Risk of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” which analyzed 1.9 million youth in Taiwan, showed that those in “better-performing fitness quantiles” exhibited lower incidents of anxiety, depressive and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders — ultimately suggesting that cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance and muscular power may serve a protective role in the onset of mental disorders. The study’s authors said the initial findings warrant further investigation.

The Asics 2024 State of Mind Study takes things a step further, finding that the ages of 15-17 are key in establishing lifelong exercise habits and that 58% of those who regularly exercised between those ages continue to do so later in life.

Of particular interest, those who were routinely active at 15-17 report higher ‘State of Mind’ scores in adulthood compared to those who were not, and each additional year a teen remained engaged in physical activity was associated with an improved State of Mind score in adulthood.

As Asics points out in its report, 57% of the Silent Generation (adults born from 1928 through 1945) recall being active daily in their childhoods compared to just 19% of Gen Z, which Asics sees as a correlation to Gen Z having the lowest State of Mind score (62/100), compared to Silent Generation scoring the highest (70/100). 

There is some hope, however, with Gen Z and millennials invested and engaged in their health and wellness, from their willingness to spend on nutrition to their interest in boutique fitness and personal training.

Fitness Brands Have a Role To Play

Leading fitness brands have looked to meet young consumers where they are with special promotions and content on social media.

Planet Fitness offers free memberships for teenagers during the summer months with its High School Summer Pass Program, a successful initiative that saw three million teens participate last summer.

Connected fitness giant Peloton has tapped TikTok, the video platform dominated by Gen Z users, to put eyes on its fitness content. So far, teaming up with Gen Z’s favorite social media app has paid off, with a Peloton spokesperson recently telling Athletech News that the TikTok collab has helped the brand reach new audiences and has driven “significant growth” in #TikTokFitness viewership.

Former pro athletes, meanwhile have invested in youth fitness facilities.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins recently partnered with ETS Performance, a youth sports performance training center. D1 Training, an athletic-based fitness training brand founded by former NFL player Will Bartholomew, opened its 100th location earlier this year, serving young athletes and adults.

The Physical Fitness and Risk of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents study can be found here.

Asics’ State of Mind Study 2024 can be found here. 

The post Physical Fitness Linked to Long-Lasting Mental Health Benefits for Kids appeared first on Athletech News.

Gamified, point-earning strategies and small financial incentives can encourage increased physical activity, especially when the two are combined, according to new research. 

An 18-month study presented this month at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session examined the effect that earning points or small amounts of money had on the physical activity of people who either have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk.

“This is one of the largest and longest-duration randomized trials of a home-based intervention to promote physical activity,” said Alexander Fanaroff, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

“Our findings show that interventions based on techniques from behavioral economics can achieve and sustain increased levels of physical activity in a population with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and could be another tool to help reduce cardiovascular risk,” Fanaroff added.

Inside the Study

The study’s 1,062 participants (with a median age of 67) were given a wearable device to track their daily steps and choose an increased step goal before being assigned to one of four groups: control, gamification, monetary reward or a combination of gamified points and small sums of money.

The control group only received daily text messages notifying them of their daily step count from the day before, whereas those in the gamification group participated in a weekly game where they received 70 points weekly. They would retain their points if they met their step goal, but if they didn’t, they’d lose ten points.

Those in the financial incentive group received $14 in a virtual account weekly. Each day they didn’t meet their step goal, they’d lose $2, but the balance would remain static if they met their goal. The combination group received both the gamified points experience and “loss-framed” financial incentives. Like the control group, the intervention participants received daily text messages on their status and a note of encouragement.

“In all three intervention arms, we observed an increase in daily steps of about 10% more than control from a baseline of about 5,000,” Fanaroff said.

The takeaway, though, is that the combination of earning points and small sums of money prompted participants to not only increase their daily step count but sustain the increase for a year, according to the study’s researchers. 

“The gamification and financial incentives interventions were equally effective, but the combined intervention was significantly more effective than either intervention alone,” Fanaroff said.

Numerous companies have leaned into fitness gamification as a motivational and engagement tool including Quell, Zwift and Supernatural, a popular VR fitness app from Within that Mark Zuckerberg and Meta acquired after a battle with FTC.

Move It or Lose It?

The study’s findings also spell good news for apps like DietBet, WayBetter and HealthyWage, which use cash payouts as an incentive towards weight loss goals. Another company, Sweatcoin, rewards users for walking and running with a digital currency that can be spent on various products or donated to a selected charity. 

Users of such platforms typically place a bet that they will lose a certain amount of weight within a set time frame. If they hit their goal, they get their money back, but they can win more if they go above their goal. However, if they don’t meet their weight loss goal, they will lose their initial bet. The majority of financially incentivized weight loss apps also have group contests available where participants encourage one another, and winners split the pot. 

“Weight Wagering” apps are not without criticism. They have come under fire from dieticians who say they can promote unhealthy eating and excessive weight loss in a short amount of time while also questioning the long-term sustainability of weight loss that’s been motivated by a money-driven contest.

Other apps, like Achievement, take a more holistic approach — allowing users to earn points for physical activities or even meditation and sleep. The points can then be redeemed for a cash reward.

Read the full study here.

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Regular cannabis users who indulge in legal-market marijuana before engaging in exercise may experience a more positive workout, according to a new study from the University of Colorado published in Sports Medicine.

Stemming from the first state to sell recreational marijuana, the Colorado-based study set out to explore the impact of cannabis on workouts and consider its possible motivational properties when it comes to fitness. 

“It’s important to understand and figure out what impact commercially available cannabis products have on the experience of exercise — specifically focusing on common barriers to exercise,” first author Laurel Gibson, a Colorado University research fellow, explained in a video outlining the experiment. “How does cannabis influence pain during exercise? How does it influence enjoyment, motivation and exertion.”

“We’re seeing an increasing number of anecdotal reports in the media that people are using cannabis in combination with various forms of exercise,” Gibson added. “There have been some recent population-based studies that have actually shown that cannabis users are more likely than nonusers to meet physical activity.”

The study’s 42 participants were regular runners and cannabis users aged 21 to 39 years old, with researchers comparing their exercise experiences both with and without two commercially available cannabis flower products. Participants completed a baseline assessment and two exercise tests on a treadmill.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, participants reported a more positive experience and runner’s high symptoms following their use of pre-workout cannabis, but they did report more exertion. Researchers indicated that the effects may depend in part on cannabinoid content.

Although the study’s authors acknowledge that further research should be conducted using diverse samples and methodologies, the legalization of marijuana in many states and the rising interest in CBD wellness products have led some notable names in pro sports to cash in on the green and advocate for the benefits of cannabis in supporting overall wellness. 

Former NFL players Calvin Johnson Jr. and Rob Sims of the Detroit Lions co-founded Primitiv Group in 2021, a Michigan-based cannabis and research company that sells performance products with non-THC phytocannabinoids and has two retail locations that feature cannabis products. Johnson Jr. has been open about his marijuana use, sharing that he had used the flower to manage his chronic pain and even admitted to having taken cannabis before games. 

Former NFL player Marshawn Lynch has been outspoken about the benefits of using marijuana and launched Dodi Blunts, a “diamond-infused” cannabis line.

“I’m trying to last, not come in last,” Lynch said in an interview. “I know I need to take care of my body, so how do I maintain that?“

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