32 readings with original sources
Health and movement
A change in a measurement does not always mean a change in health. These readings explore research on movement, food and other behaviors while keeping sight of what researchers actually observed.
What to look for in these studies
Understanding a result means knowing who took part, what the intervention was compared with and how long it lasted. It also means distinguishing biological signals from diseases or symptoms. These readings are educational and do not replace a consultation or professional advice.
- Who took part, and what was compared?
- Were symptoms, illnesses or an intermediate signal measured?
- What follow-up and limitations did the study have?
Explore the research
- Forest-rich playgrounds: greater variety in some skin bacteria
- By mail or with a nurse, a walking plan added steps a year later
- One goal reduced sitting time; another added standing breaks
- A brief supported routine improved mobility tests in older adults
- People who ended showers with cold water missed fewer days of work
- Calorie labels in walking minutes did not show a clear change in purchases
- Receiving fruits and vegetables improved vitality; receiving a voucher did not
- Four cups of coffee a day hydrated similarly to water
- Sugary-drink sales rose overall but fell per person
- Washing hands before cooking went along with less diarrhea in children
- Text-message reminders did not show a clear difference in vaccination
- Average blood pressure was lower with education and salt substitutes
- A 3D-printed orthosis with materials costing $15 to $20
- After reading on a bright screen, participants reported more visual fatigue
- Walking left fewer depression symptoms than doing nothing
- A little over an extra hour of sleep, about 270 fewer calories per day
- Eight thousand steps one or two days a week were associated with lower mortality
- Inactive women using an app and advice added about 2,000 steps a day
- Adjustable desks reduced sitting time by almost an hour
- Squeezing a hand device at home lowered systolic pressure
- The full app reduced drinking by about two and a half more drinks per week
- The mindfulness group reported less lower-back pain
- A month of kombucha changed the mix of microbes, but not most health measures
- A year of a supported Mediterranean diet slightly lowered systolic pressure
- Adding exercise or counseling showed no change in pregnancy weight gain
- The exercise program added no advantage for quitting smoking
- A digital therapy reduced insomnia more than a sleep-habits guide
- An integrated program begun during radiotherapy reduced visceral fat
- Video-supervised exercise improved movement tests, but not blood sugar
- Same exercises in water and on land produced similar results
- Four years of exercise: a small advantage on one cognitive test
- Confidence-building strategies increased confidence, but not strength