Science Weekly - 17022020

​February has brought a range of science publications in the fields of fitness, nutrition, sports science with a little spice from psychology. There is something useful for all. 

Here're the highlights:

• The '10K-a-day' advice may not be as effective in weight loss as they made it out to be
• Golf can be the best exercise choice for the elderly
• The link between vigorous exercise and the onset of Parkinson's - a sports study on long-distance skiers
• How a new technology inspired by ancient Japanese craft can help learn more about muscular activity
• ​Why excessive exercise is harmful, especially for people with eating disorders
• The link between diet and inflammatory autoimmune disorders
• Upbeat music may make workouts feel easier and more efficient
• The effect of Social Media on users' eating habits
• Can you prevent Alzheimer's with regular exercise?

10,000 steps a day: Not a magical formula for preventing weight gain

Even far eclipsing 10K steps didn't prevent weight gain for college freshmen studied
​For years now, 10,000 steps a day has become the gold standard for people trying to improve their health -- and recent research shows some benefits can come from even just 7,500 steps. But if you're trying to prevent weight gain, a new study suggests no number of steps alone will do the trick.

Source: ​Brigham Young University

Golfing regularly could be a hole-in-one for older adults' health

Regularly golfing, at least once per month, was found to lower the risk of death among older adults. While the protective effects of playing golf have not been linked to reduction of heart attack and stroke risk, researchers note the positive effects of exercise and social interaction for older adults unable to participate in more strenuous exercise.

​Source: American Heart Association

Long-distance skiers may have 'motor reserve' that can delay onset of Parkinson's disease

To better understand the relationship between physical activity and Parkinson's Disease (PD) investigators in Sweden analyzed medical records of nearly 200,000 long-distance skiers who took part in the Vasaloppet cross-country ski race. They established that a physically active lifestyle is associated with close to a 30% reduced risk for PD, which might be explained by a motor reserve among the physically active, however, this dissipates as individuals age.

Source: IOS Press

How kirigami can help us study the muscular activity of athletes

Scientists devise an elastic and durable skin-contact patch for measuring the electromyographic activity of the palm muscle inspired by ancient Japanese paper crafts.

Source: Waseda University

Excessive sports in cases of eating disorders: Psychological mechanisms decoded

Results reveal major implications for prevention and therapy
​Excessive and obsessive exercise is very harmful to health, particularly for persons suffering from eating disorders. Based on electronic diaries, a team of researchers has now uncovered psychological mechanisms underlying pathological exercise. Their results allow the conclusion that persons with eating disorders use exercise to regulate depressive mood and negative thoughts relating to their eating disorders.

Source: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Dietary interventions may slow onset of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders

Significantly reducing dietary levels of the amino acid methionine could slow onset and progression of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis in high-risk individuals, according to new findings.

Source: Van Andel Research Institute

Tunes for training: High-tempo music may make exercise easier and more beneficial

Study is first to find that high-tempo music may increase the benefits of exercise and reduce perceived effort, particularly during endurance training
A new study has shown that listening to high-tempo music increases the benefits of exercise for physical fitness and reduces the perceived effort involved. This effect was more pronounced in people performing endurance exercises, such as walking, than in those undergoing high-intensity training, such as weightlifting. The researchers hope that their findings could help people to improve their workout routines and exercise more efficiently.

Source: Frontiers

Social media users 'copy' friends' eating habits

Social media users are more likely to eat fruit and veg -- or snack on junk food -- if they think their friends do the same, a new study has found.

Source: Aston University

Aerobic exercise training linked to enhanced brain function

Regular aerobic exercise may decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease
Individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of family history or genetic predisposition who engaged in six months of aerobic exercise training improved their brain glucose metabolism and higher-order thinking abilities (e.g., planning and mental flexibility) called executive function; these improvements occurred in conjunction with increased cardiorespiratory fitness.

Source: IOS Press