Health & Fitness News & Features

Among adults living in rural America, 13.3% were exercising in 2008 at recommended rates, but by 2017 that number had risen to 19.6%. And in cities, rates went even higher -- from 19.4% to 25.3%.

Scientists concluded that in grueling physical activities that last for days, weeks and months, humans can burn calories at most at 2.5 times their resting metabolic rate.

“Physical activity is good for you. What's new and striking is how little you need to do to make a difference," the study's lead author said.

A combination of an exercise app, an activity tracker and personal counseling increased women's physical activity levels, researchers found.

Not only does it provide much needed exercise for people who are often tied to their desks for the entire work day, it can also give them a stress-reducing mental lift.

In the U.S., total sitting time from 2007 to 2016 rose by about an hour a day, to 8.2 hours for teens and 6.4 hours for adults

The researchers classified them as "weekend warriors" if they exercised only one or two days a week, or as regularly active folks who spread their exercise out over the week.

Increasing their activity benefited both men and women, in all age groups, and at all fitness levels, the researchers said.

Douglas County, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, was among the top in at least four of the report’s 81 measures, including physical activity, educational attainment and median household income.

Americans who got in just 10 to 59 minutes of moderate physical activity every week had an 18 percent lower risk of death from any cause, compared with couch potatoes, the researchers found

In the study, people who'd been inactive in youth but decided to get more physical in middle age saw almost the same reduction in their chance of dying early as people who’d exercised all their lives.

Last year the 72-year-old, 6-foot 3-inch Trump weighed 239 pounds, but in a year he has gained 4 pounds and is now 243 pounds. That puts him at a body mass index of 30.4, which crosses the 30 BMI clinical threshold for obesity.

Researchers found that aerobic exercise increased participants' overall fitness as well as their so-called executive function -- thinking skills that are key to reasoning, planning and problem-solving.

Ashley Borden, author of the book Your Perfect Fit and a personal trainer with a roster of celebrity clients, suggests ways you can keep your fitness resolutions this year.

The healing process for those who spent three weeks in a cast or brace was as successful as among those who spent six weeks in a cast, and shorter treatment brought no added harm, according to a new study.

People who replaced just 30 minutes of sitting per day with low-intensity physical activity lowered their risk of an early death by 17 percent, according to the study published online Jan. 14 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Plateauing can be one of the most frustrating parts of getting in shape. These strategies can help you get around it and stay on track.

This is only the second time HHS has released these types of physical activity recommendations. The original set was issued in 2008

Research has shown any small amount of activity provides a solid contribution to a person's health, according to the second edition of the guidelines unveiled Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Chicago.

Having breakfast before a morning workout triggers the body to burn more carbohydrates during exercise and also speeds digestion afterward, a small British study finds.

For most healthy people, cycling, gardening and playing sports can lead to a healthier heart and a reduced risk of first heart attack or heart attack recurrence, even in a polluted city, a 20-year-study has found.

Fatigue Fuels Knee Injuries in Young Athletes By Robert PreidtHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, July 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- When a teen athlete is tired, their risk of suffering a common knee injury rises, a new study suggests.The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the thighbone to the shinbone, at the knee. When the ACL is overstretched or torn, it can cause swelling, instability and pain. It can also lead to high treatment costs because it may require surgery or physical therapy.The new study included 85 athletes, average age about 15, who participated in track and field, basketball, volleyball

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but it's clear that Americans are spending more time in their seats -- watching TV, working and playing on computers and smartphones

Just 1 in 4 Americans Gets Enough Exercise By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Three-quarters of Americans are falling far short when it comes to exercise, and the South and Midwest bear the dubious distinction of having the most couch potatoes, a new government report shows.Only about one in four adults (23 percent) meets minimum federal guidelines for physical activity, according to researchers from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.Dr. William Roberts, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, said the only surprise is that the percentage of Americans

The researchers also found that people seemed to cut their risk of dying early from heart disease by 24 percent by walking at an average pace and 21 percent by walking at a fast pace, compared with walking at a slow pace.