Forest-rich playgrounds: greater variety in some skin bacteria
At four Finnish day-care centers with forest soil and lawn, a signal involved in regulating immune defenses also rose in the children.
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
By mail or with a nurse, a walking plan added steps a year later
A year later, participants who received the plan in London walked over 600 extra steps per day. Nurse support had no advantage over mail.
One goal reduced sitting time; another added standing breaks
In a 30-adult pilot, the standard sensor counted about 13 extra stand-ups; detailed counting in a subgroup found about 40.
A brief supported routine improved mobility tests in older adults
Among 97 older adults with walking difficulty, those in the routine improved more on chair rises and balance. Six had discomfort or injuries.
People who ended showers with cold water missed fewer days of work
By self-report, there were 29% fewer days absent. No difference was observed on days participants felt ill.
Calorie labels in walking minutes did not show a clear change in purchases
Across ten workplace cafeterias in England, the average barely moved. By site: four decreased, one increased, and five showed no difference.
Receiving fruits and vegetables improved vitality; receiving a voucher did not
Over two weeks, young adults who ate little fruit reported more vitality when food was delivered directly. With messages and a voucher, they ate more but did not show this change.
Four cups of coffee a day hydrated similarly to water
Fifty healthy men used to drinking coffee had each drink for three days: body water and urine were similar. Coffee produced more urinary sodium.
Sugary-drink sales rose overall but fell per person
In Mexico, total sales after the tax exceeded the prior average. Adjusting for population and the economy, the model estimated a per-person decrease.
Washing hands before cooking went along with less diarrhea in children
In rural Bangladesh households where both hands were washed before cooking, children had less diarrhea. Researchers observed practices; they did not assign them.
Text-message reminders did not show a clear difference in vaccination
Vaccination was slightly higher among families sent SMS reminders, but the difference was not clear when all randomized families were analyzed.
Average blood pressure was lower with education and salt substitutes
No clear difference was seen with self-help materials. By strategy, 44 trials (over 30,000 people) were combined, and results varied greatly.
A 3D-printed orthosis with materials costing $15 to $20
Among three people with spinal cord injuries, one task showed more blocks transferred in a minute. Other tasks had mixed results.
After reading on a bright screen, participants reported more visual fatigue
Twelve people read for over an hour on three media. They blinked less on the bright screen, and fatigue rose clearly only there.
Walking left fewer depression symptoms than doing nothing
The review found fewer depression and anxiety symptoms with walking than in inactive groups. There was no firm advantage over other interventions.
A little over an extra hour of sleep, about 270 fewer calories per day
Researchers randomized 80 adults with overweight who slept little; those given advice to sleep more ate less over two weeks, according to an estimate.
Eight thousand steps one or two days a week were associated with lower mortality
Among 3,101 adults in the United States followed for ten years, people who reached that level on some days had lower mortality. The study was observational.
Inactive women using an app and advice added about 2,000 steps a day
They continued walking more over the next six months, but keeping the app offered no advantage over stopping it.
Adjustable desks reduced sitting time by almost an hour
Added to a program to sit less, across 24 workplaces and 630 employees. A combined metabolic-risk measure showed no firm change.
Squeezing a hand device at home lowered systolic pressure
In Thailand, 30 older adults with hypertension were randomized. After eight weeks, systolic pressure fell more with grip exercises than with no-resistance gripping.
The full app reduced drinking by about two and a half more drinks per week
Among 761 Canadian adults with risky drinking, reported drinking fell with both versions. It fell somewhat more with the full version.
The mindfulness group reported less lower-back pain
In Spain, the group receiving nine sessions reported less stress and a better physical SF-36 subscale score than with usual care.
A month of kombucha changed the mix of microbes, but not most health measures
After four weeks, groups differed in some gut species, but most metabolic and inflammatory measures were similar.
A year of a supported Mediterranean diet slightly lowered systolic pressure
Among people who completed the year and had valid data, systolic pressure fell modestly. Diastolic pressure showed no firm difference.
Adding exercise or counseling showed no change in pregnancy weight gain
Gestational diabetes also showed no difference. 219 healthy, inactive pregnant women in Denmark were randomized to three groups.
The exercise program added no advantage for quitting smoking
Everyone received patches and counseling; 392 adults were assigned to exercise or a wellness program, and similar proportions remained smoke-free.
A digital therapy reduced insomnia more than a sleep-habits guide
The advantage over the guide lasted through 24 weeks in 336 U.S. adults with confirmed insomnia.
An integrated program begun during radiotherapy reduced visceral fat
Among 95 women with breast cancer, the program group also improved more on a physical-capacity test at three months.
Video-supervised exercise improved movement tests, but not blood sugar
Among 33 adults with type 2 diabetes, those who trained remotely improved more on movement and sleep tests. Blood sugar did not differ.
Same exercises in water and on land produced similar results
Among 30 women with knee osteoarthritis, the only between-group difference favored land exercise on a walking test.
Four years of exercise: a small advantage on one cognitive test
The advantage on the primary cognitive test appeared among those who started without difficulties. The comparison was not convincing among those with memory complaints.
Confidence-building strategies increased confidence, but not strength
In older adults with overweight or obesity in Thailand, both groups improved on physical tests. Confidence increased more with the strategies.