Physiologists find that the biggest predictors of people’s ability to burn fat are their biological sex and their fitness levels. The research, comprising two new studies from academics led by the University of Bath’s Centre for Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism, analysed the factors that most influenced individuals’ capacity to burn body fat when undertaking endurance…

An analysis of data from more than 11,000 older Japanese adults suggests that seniors who own a dog may be at lower risk of disability than those who have never been dog owners. Earlier studies by these researchers have linked dog ownership among Japanese seniors with a lower risk of frailty — a relationship that…

If the mist in a dentist’s office — sent flying into the air by spinning, vibrating tools — contains a virus or some other pathogen, it is a health hazard. So researchers studied the viscoelastic properties of food-grade polymers and discovered that the forces of a vibrating tool or dentist’s drill are no match for…

Researchers identified 123 regions in the human genome that are associated with daytime napping and three distinct mechanisms that promote napping. Many napping-related genes also regulate other aspects of sleep. «Napping is somewhat controversial,» says Hassan Saeed Dashti, PhD, RD, of the MGH Center for Genomic Medicine, co-lead author of the report with Iyas Daghlas,…

Consuming a plant-based diet can lower blood pressure even if small amounts of meat and dairy are consumed too, according to new research. Published online by a team from Warwick Medical School in the Journal of Hypertension today (25 July), they argue that any effort to increase plant-based foods in your diet and limit animal…

‘Scooter clutter’ has been a concern amplified by media reports in urban areas where micromobility has entered the landscape, with large numbers of dockless scooters and shared e-bikes on city streets and sidewalks. But a recent study finds that motor vehicles are still the main offender by far when it comes to blocking access by…

Diets high in red and processed meat, refined grains and sugary beverages, which have been associated with increased inflammation in the body, can increase subsequent risk of heart disease and stroke compared to diets filled with anti-inflammatory foods. A separate study assessed the positive effects eating walnuts, an anti-inflammatory food, had on decreasing inflammation and…

Cycling to work is associated with a higher risk of admission to hospital for an injury than other modes of commuting, suggests a new study. But those who cycled to work had a significantly lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and death compared with commuters who did not cycle. Recent evidence shows that active modes…

People who increase their consumption of sugary beverages — whether they contain added or naturally occurring sugar — may face moderately higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The study also found that drinking more artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) in place of sugary beverages did not appear to lessen diabetes risk. However, diabetes risk decreased when…

Individuals who suffer from migraine headaches appear to have a hyper-excitable visual cortex. Migraines are characterised as debilitating and persistent headaches, often accompanied by an increased sensitivity to visual or other sensory stimuli. The exact causes of these headaches are not well understood, although scientists believe they may be related to temporary changes in the…