Search: fitness

teenage boy takes a big drink from a can

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The Scary Truth About Energy Drinks and Teens

Your teen is anticipating a big day: midterm exams followed by band practice and a soccer game. The pressure is on to perform at a high level. It’s easy to grab an energy drink for a pick-me-up—the promise of enhanced focus and athletic performance attracts many teens. But these drinks have serious downsides. The high…

Adolescents, Children's Health, School-Age Children

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back of a man riding on a bicycle on a dirt path with grass surrounding, riding toward beautiful sunset

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Gaining More Life After Bariatric Surgery

If you try to eat healthy and exercise regularly but can’t lose excess weight that is causing health problems, you’re not alone. Nearly 1 in 3 adults struggle with weight-related chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. “In addition to medical problems related to obesity, obesity can impact quality of life,…

Bariatric Surgery, Patient Stories

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close-up image of a female hand writing on a post-it note stuck to a whiteboard

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One Small Change Can Make a Big Difference

When Mary Morrison retired in May 2021, she made up her mind to get in better physical shape. She had always wanted to try aqua aerobics, so she signed up for a class. She had to summon all her courage to put on a swimsuit and walk from the locker room to the pool for…

Fitness and Mobility, Wellness

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Interior of gym with treadmills and elliptical machines lined up in a row

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Determined to Exercise More? 5 Tips for Finding a Gym

Editor’s note: This article originally ran Jan. 5, 2022 and was updated Dec. 15, 2023. If your New Year’s resolutions include getting into better shape or exercising more, one of the first steps toward meeting your goal may be finding a gym or fitness center. A gym can be a big investment, so you want…

Wellness

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two older men play doubles pickleball

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Play Pickleball—and Prevent Injuries

Does tennis sound fun, but the mere idea of running and twisting on a tennis court makes your knees scream in their sockets? Consider pickleball, a racquet game with a silly name that is America’s fastest-growing sport—nearly 5 million people are playing. Pickleball is popular in part because it’s low impact, but injuries are still…

Exercise, Fitness and Mobility

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Three teenaged boys walking down the street toward the sunset, skateboards in hand

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Get Your Teen Moving

Convincing teens to be active and maintain their physical health is a challenge—when do teens listen to anything their parents say? But it’s critical for their health throughout their lives. “Eating a healthy diet and exercising are the two things that will have the biggest impact on their health as adults,” says UNC Health pediatrician…

Adolescents, Fitness and Mobility

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Three middle-school girls walk together outside of the school building, all three wearing backpacks and face masks

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Prepare for a Healthier School Year

With another school year just around the corner, parents, children and teachers can add a fourth “R” to reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic—reducing your risk of getting sick. Common illnesses such as colds, the flu and COVID-19 can run rampant anywhere lots of people gather, and schools are no exception. Omicron variants of COVID-19 are still…

Coronavirus, Infectious Diseases, School-Age Children

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Pregnant woman exercising outside

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5 Things to Know About Pregnancy Past Age 35

Are you wondering if you’re too old to have a baby? More women are waiting to start a family, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median age of mothers giving birth in the U.S. now is 30. The number of women ages 35 to 39 giving birth increased by 67 percent from 1990 to…

Health, Pregnancy and Maternal Health, Women's Health

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Pregnant woman in swimming pool

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How to Exercise Safely During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body is working overtime to sustain you and your growing baby. Even a simple task like going to the grocery store can feel like an Olympic sport. With your body going through so many changes and tiring more easily, is it safe to exercise during pregnancy? Absolutely, says Mary Hale, a certified…

Pregnancy and Maternal Health, Wellness, Women's Health

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Woman practicing yoga.

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9 Benefits of Yoga for Cancer Survivors

You’ve gotten a diagnosis that’s particularly hard to hear: cancer. Facing cancer can be stressful and painful, but practicing yoga can help usher in a sense of calm and strength. If you’ve had cancer in the past or have it now, consider making yoga a part of your life—with clearance from your healthcare provider, of…

Cancer, Health, Wellness

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Close up of a group of kids on a tennis court learning how to serve a tennis ball

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3 Things Young Athletes Need to Know About Protein

Whether in the locker room or on the sidelines, it seems like everyone in the world of youth sports is talking about the power of protein. This nutrient is found in food and, increasingly, in supplements, bars and shakes marketed to young athletes. Are these magic potions that fuel better performances on the court or…

Fitness and Mobility, Nutrition

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young woman runner tying her shoes preparing for a jog outside at morning

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Walk to Build Strength and Endurance—One Step at a Time

Want to improve your fitness but not interested in training for a marathon or joining a high-intensity workout group? No problem. Walking is a great way to build endurance and strength, especially if you have not been exercising regularly. “There are so many benefits of walking,” says Beth Blount, a personal trainer at the UNC…

Fitness and Mobility, Wellness

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