Olympic Medalists Live Longer

Posted 9:33 PM 12/13/2012

Dec. 13, 2012 -- We watch the Olympic Games with awe and marvel at the athletes' power and grace.

But are Olympic athletes really any healthier than the rest of us? Do they live longer? And if they do, what does it mean for the rest of us mere mortals?

These are some of the questions that two new studies in the BMJ set out to answer.

The first study showed Olympic medalists do live close to three years longer than the rest of us (More)
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Hiking in Nature May Boost Creativity

Posted 7:59 PM 12/12/2012

Dec. 12, 2012 -- Hiking in the wild may be good for the brain, especially if you are unplugged.

New research shows that backpackers scored 50% better on a creativity test after spending four days in nature while disconnected from all electronic devices.

Fifty-six people with an average age of 28 went on four- to six-day wilderness hiking trips organized by (More)
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Physical Activity Boosts Brain Health

Posted 7:47 PM 11/1/2012

Nov. 1, 2012 -- Add lower risk for memory problems to the list of potential benefits from regular physical activity.

New research shows that older people who reported exercising for 30 minutes at least three times a week had a nearly 40% lower risk of (More)
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Top 10 Fitness Trends Picked for 2013

Posted 4:25 PM 10/29/2012

Oct. 29, 2012 -- Forget fancy fitness fads. Your body is the only equipment you need for one of the hottest fitness trends: body-weight workouts.

A new survey of fitness trends shows body-weight training, including back-to-basics exercises like push-ups, planks, and pull-ups, is expected to be one of the top 10 fitness trends of 2013.

Researchers say people have been using their own (More)
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Interval Training Burns More Calories in Less Time

Posted 9:08 PM 10/12/2012

Oct. 12, 2012 -- Don't have time to exercise? That excuse no longer works. Increasing evidence, including new research presented this week, shows that even short workouts that include surges of very high intensity can boost fitness and potentially shrink the waistline.

In the new study, exercise physiology graduate student Kyle Sevits of Colorado State (More)
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Active Video Games Help Some Kids Get Active

Posted 3:02 AM 10/1/2012

Oct. 1, 2012 -- One type of TV time may actually play a valuable role in the battle against childhood obesity.

A new study suggests active video games may help children, especially girls, raise physical activity levels.

The results show most teens who play active video games play at moderate or vigorous intensity levels that would help them meet the recommended 60 (More)
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Simple Tip May Ease Athletes' Performance Anxiety

Posted 9:30 PM 9/20/2012

Researchers have revealed a simple trick that may help athletes keep their cool during a game's high-pressure moments. Their advice to avoid choking under pressure: Clench the fist of your non-dominant hand.

The findings appear in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

In the study, right-handed athletes who squeezed a ball with their left hand or clenched their left fist before a competition were less likely to choke in high- (More)
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Details: New Presidential Youth Fitness Program

Posted 9:08 PM 9/13/2012

Sept. 13, 2012 -- Goodbye percentile scores, hello "healthy fitness zone."

A new presidential youth fitness program is replacing the old presidential fitness test that most adults grew up with in physical education (PE) classes in school.

The updated program does away with comparing students' performances on athletic tasks like sit-ups and push-ups (More)
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