Diet and Fitness

HowStuffWorks offers guidance for developing an exercise routine that will help you get in shape and stay healthy. Learn about diet and fitness and get tips from professional trainers.

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Tips From Trainer Steve Ramsbottom

10 Weird Workouts

Atkins Diet: What You Need to Know

Mediterranean Diet: What You Need to Know

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Asian Americans Should Be Screened for Diabetes at Lower Weights

Some U.S. doctors and Asian American health advocates are calling for a lower BMI cutoff for Asian Americans, mainly because of health concerns about Type 2 diabetes.

By Tara Yarlagadda Sep 12, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Fitness Information

Have People Ever Really Eaten Tapeworms for Weight Loss?

The rumor mill says that if a person were to intentionally swallow a tapeworm their excess pounds would simply melt away. But what's the truth about the 'tapeworm diet'?

By Ed Grabianowski & Alia Hoyt Diet & Fitness / Weight Loss

The Science and Smarts Behind Hypertrophy (and Getting Ripped)

Hypertrophy is just a super-science-y way to say you're building muscle. And there are lots of ways to do it.

By John Donovan Aug 2, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

Namaste: It Doesn't Just Mean Yoga Class Is Over

The ubiquitous and beautiful Sanskrit word has meaning beyond the mat.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky May 2, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Yoga

Which Pushup Is the Perfect Pushup for You?

Pushups are a great upper-body exercise that people often do wrong. So what's the right way to perform a pushup and what are some variations?

By Alia Hoyt Mar 12, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

You Need to Get Your Squat On

Squatting has a ton of benefits and can actually strengthen a lot of your inactive muscle groups.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Feb 6, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

The Keto Craze: Does the Diet Live Up to the Hype?

The keto diet is high in fat and low in carbs — ideal for quick weight loss, but not necessarily for keeping it off.

By Shaun Chavis Jan 29, 2019 Diet & Fitness / Diets

Could You Pass Your Kid's Middle School Fitness Test?

They're probably the bane of your middle school memories. So why do we still subject kids to these humiliating physical fitness tests?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Nov 20, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

Is Apple Cider Vinegar the ‘Secret’ to Weight Loss?

Lots of people believe that a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day helps to speed weight loss. But what does science say?

By Dave Roos Oct 30, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Weight Loss

Time-restricted Eaters Lose Weight Even Without Changing Diet

A small study found that just by eating breakfast later and dinner earlier, people could lose twice as much body fat as those who did not. But could they stick with this diet?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus Sep 19, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Diets

Is Lectin-free the New Gluten-free?

A lectin-free diet bans beans, grains and even some veggies. So is this the next cure-all fad diet?

By Shaun Chavis Jul 17, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Diets

Enough With the Term 'Healthy Obesity,' Says Researcher

It turns out that people who are both healthy and obese are rarer than you might think.

By Alia Hoyt May 2, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Weight Loss

Bananas Might Be the World's Perfect Workout Food

Compared to sports drinks, bananas might be tops at helping us power through workouts and heal faster on the other end.

By Jesslyn Shields Apr 12, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Fitness Information

After Weight Loss, Hunger Is a Life Sentence

Why is it so hard to keep weight off after losing it? One study suggests it's because your body wants you to put it back on.

By Dave Roos Feb 26, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Weight Loss

Hold the Gluten? Here’s Why That May Not Be a Good Idea

New research shows going gluten free may not be all it's cracked up to be.

By Chris Opfer Jan 31, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Diets

A Workout Before Takeoff: Will Airport Gyms Become a Thing?

A quick workout before or between flights would be a nice way to get energized, especially if there was a gym conveniently located at your terminal. So why aren't there more gyms inside U.S. airports?

By John Donovan Jan 30, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

Hot Yoga Works, But Doesn't Have to Be So Hot

Hot yoga may not be as beneficial as once thought, a new study suggests.

By Robert Lamb Jan 18, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Yoga

Gender at the Gym: How Workout Preferences Vary by Sex, Age

Workout trends are changing, as younger people are less into the gender divide of classes for women and weightlifting for men.

By Alia Hoyt Jan 11, 2018 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

Would Exercise Work Better if We Did It Naked?

There are nude bike rides, naked yoga sessions and even the occasional bare-it-all Crossfit sesh. Would our bodies be more efficient without clothes getting in the way?

By Laurie L. Dove Dec 26, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Exercise

Mixed Messaging Confuses People Trying to Lose Weight

A study showed that weight loss messages are more likely to work when both are actions ("eat more veggies," "do more exercise") rather than if one is an action and the other is an inaction ("eat more veggies," "eat less fat").

By Alia Hoyt Oct 9, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Weight Loss

Does Alternate-Day Fasting Work? It Depends on the Person

It's a popular dieting trend but in this 2017 long-term study, the first of its kind, researchers found mixed results on the effectiveness of alternate-day fasting.

By Alia Hoyt May 10, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Diets

Worrying Has Some Benefits After All, Research Shows

Worrying can be detrimental to a person's health, but — in the right amounts — it can also promote well-being.

By Shelley Danzy May 8, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Fitness Information

Climb Stairs Instead of Guzzling Caffeine for an Energy Boost

Take the stairs instead of the elevator on your way to the office, and you might not need that morning cup of joe for energy. (You'll probably still want it, though.)

By Shelley Danzy May 2, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Fitness Information

Yoga Makes People Super Emotional. But Why?

Emotions can get the best of you when you're in corpse pose. The reason why is somewhat of a mystery, but science and yogis have some pretty good guesses.

By Julia Layton Apr 26, 2017 Diet & Fitness / Yoga