More Americans Are Walking for Exercise

THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 -- Call it a step in the right direction: More and more Americans are trying to walk their way to better health.

The number of adults who took up walking for exercise or as a way to get from place to place increased significantly between 2005 and 2015, federal health officials reported Thursday.

Exercise Can Keep Obese Seniors on the Go

WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2017 -- Exercise may improve everyday life for even severely obese older adults, a new study says.

Obese seniors can become unable to walk short distances -- this is termed a major mobility disorder -- and perform day-to-day tasks. Extreme obesity, in particular, may threaten someone's independence, researchers say.

Docs Should Counsel Even Healthy People on Diet, Exercise, Experts Say

TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 -- Lifestyle counseling could help protect the long-term heart health of adults who aren't yet at high risk for heart attack and stroke, a panel of medical experts says.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday reaffirmed its 2012 recommendation that doctors consider extra counseling on diet and exercise even among their low-risk patients.

Americans Want to Be Fit, But Most Don't Put in the Effort

MONDAY, June 19, 2017 -- Most Americans want to be in better shape, but few are putting in the work to get there, a new survey shows.

More than three-quarters of U.S. adults said that being in shape and looking good were "very important" to them, the survey found. A similar number wanted to change something about their body appearance.

High-Intensity Exercise May Be Bad for the Bowels

FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 -- When it comes to stomach discomfort during exercise, forget that old adage "no pain, no gain." New research suggests that excessive strenuous exercise may lead to gut damage.

"The stress response of prolonged vigorous exercise shuts down gut function," said lead author Ricardo Costa.

Adults Who Love Exercise May Gain 9 'Biological' Years

FRIDAY, May 26, 2017 -- Could regular, strenuous exercise be a "fountain of youth"? New research suggests it could be -- for your cells, at least.

"Just because you're 40 doesn't mean you're 40 years old biologically," said Larry Tucker, a professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University in Utah.