Insulin resistance can make you more than twice as likely to develop major depression, even if you haven’t developed full-blown diabetes, a new study reports. Initially healthy people who later developed prediabetes were 2.6 times more likely to come down with major depression during a nine-year follow-up period, according to the findings. “The insulin-resistant folks…  read on >  read on >

TUESDAY, Sept. 21, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — A year of exercise training helped to preserve or increase the youthful elasticity of the heart muscle among people showing early signs of heart failure, a small study shows. The new research, published Sept. 20 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, bolsters the idea that…  read on >  read on >

It’s not just athletes on the field who suffer when outdoor temperatures get too high. Members of college and high school marching bands are at increased risk of heat-related illness, too, researchers warn. “They go out there, and they often wear these really heavy wool uniforms,” said lead author Andrew Grundstein of the University of…  read on >  read on >

Shedding excess weight does much more for the long-term heart health of young people than building muscle, new research suggests. It’s not that gaining muscle while young proved to be a cardiovascular problem. It’s just that losing fat offered bigger heart benefits. “We absolutely still encourage exercise,” said study lead author Joshua Bell, a senior…  read on >  read on >

Anxiety prevention may be just a snowy trail away. New research suggests cross-country skiers — and perhaps others who also exercise vigorously — are less prone to develop anxiety disorders than less active folks. Researchers in Sweden spent roughly two decades tracking anxiety risk among more than 395,000 Swedes. Nearly half the participants were skiers…  read on >  read on >

Exercising during pregnancy can benefit babies’ lungs, Scandinavian researchers report. “This study offers a fascinating hint that increased physical activity of mothers is associated with better lung function in their babies and, therefore, possibly their health in later life,” said Jonathan Grigg, head of the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee, who was not involved…  read on >  read on >

Miami publicist Robin Diamond is “step-obsessed.” She aims for 10,000-plus steps every day using her Apple watch and even bought a treadmill during the COVID-19 quarantine to make sure she reaches her daily goal. The 43-year-old has lost 15 pounds since April 2019 and feels better than ever before. “Walking saved my sanity and restored…  read on >  read on >