Brainstorm | Opinion, Analysis, Reports, Features

"Running shoes are designed in a way that improves running efficiency" Photo: Getty Images

The science behind the running shoes which help you go faster

Can innovations in footwear design really make such a big difference to your Parkrun, 10k or marathon time?

There are countless benefits to including walk and talk meetings as part of your weekly schedule. Photo: Getty Images

5 reasons why businesses should consider walk and talk meetings

While these meetings are not a complex conundrum, walk and talk meetings must be bound by a set of guidelines to ensure that they are fit for purpose, maximise employee's time and produce positive outcomes.

Health and Fitness • 09 Apr 21

Do you have an obsessive or compulsive need to exercise to the detriment of your quality of life?

Are you addicted to exercise?

Exercise addiction is a real mental health condition, yet still poorly understood

Health • 23 Jul 20

See you in 2021: Olympic rings outside the Tokyo Olympic Stadium

How can elite athletes and players deal with coronavirus issues?

Here are some expert skills and habits which may help when it comes to postponements, cancellations and restrictions during the pandemic

Sport • 07 Apr 20

"The benefits of regular exercise will be of immense value for you during this challenging period"

Never mind the kids: 10 ways for adults to keep active indoors

Tips and recommendations for an exercise and activity plan for adults currently stuck indoors

Health and Fitness • 26 Mar 20

"Do remember to keep building in activity that really involves you and your child moving your whole body as this will give you heart health benefits as well as skill development benefits"

How to keep yourself and your kids active during the lockdown

Some tips on how to keep yourself and your kids moving while maintaining a social distance during the coronavirus lockdown.

Coronavirus • 20 Mar 20

"Current evidence clearly highlights the risks and negative implications of using physical activity as a deterrent, or punishment to food choices"

Why linking food choices with physical activity isn't a good idea

Research shows that engaging in physical activity in response to food choices may do more harm than good

Health • 24 Jan 20

"The health benefits of exercise won't last if you don't sustain your exercise regime"

9 things people say about exercise that aren't true

Debunking some myths and misconceptions about exercise

Health and Fitness • 13 Jan 20

"If we don't move enough, we don't feel our best"

How to keep the kids active over the holidays

Children need to do at least one hour of physical activity a day to get their hearts and lungs working

Health and Fitness • 19 Dec 19

Referee Sean Cleere warms-up with linesmen, Colm Lyons, left, and Johnny Murphy, ahead of the All-Ireland semi final between Wexford and Tipperary at Croke Park. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile via Getty Images

How fit are GAA referees?

A new research study tracks the fitness of Gaelic football and hurling referees as they cover up to 10km in each game

Gaelic Games • 28 Jul 19

"Research shows that strength training has been linked to reducing an individual's injury risk and enhancing bone strength and health."

So you want to know about strength and conditioning...

Anyone seeking to improve their fitness, health and wellbeing will benefit from applying the principles of strength and conditioning

Strength And Conditioning • 25 Jul 19

By 2020, the numbers of people living with diabetes in Ireland is expected to increase by 30% from 2010 figures.

What legislation can do to help prevent and treat diabetes

With the numbers of people living with diabetes in Ireland expected to increase, we need a similar bold approach to the prevention of obesity to stop its onward march.

Health • 13 Jun 19

Fergie time: former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is expected to make a full recovery from his recent stroke

Different strokes for different folks

Alex Ferguson's recent surgery focused attention on a disease which affects many people, but what do we actually know about how and why strokes occur?

Health • 17 May 18

"The How Are You? app is designed to collect lifestyle information to build a clearer picture of our moods, stress levels, activity and sleep patterns'

How Are You? The health researcher in your pocket

Report: a new project to use the data your phone collects to check the general well-being of the nation

Health and Fitness • 09 Feb 18

"Burnout impacts the ability to think clearly, to concentrate and impairs interactions with colleagues and clients"

Are you suffering from workplace burnout?

Opinion: burnout in the workplace is bad news for employees and employers so it is critical that both understand the signs and causes and take steps to prevent it.

Burnout • 18 Sep 19

Would you swap a session at the gym in favour of a pill?

Will there ever be a pill to replace exercise?

Opinion: research is underway to create drugs which induce some of the same beneficial effects that occur in response to exercise

Health and Fitness • 23 Jan 18

"Taxes can have an important role to play in encouraging behavioural change"

What effect will the sugary drinks' tax have on obesity?

Opinion: the objective of the forthcoming tax is to reduce rates of childhood and adult obesity, but we don't have established evidence for the effect of such a tax in the long term

Sugar Tax • 17 Jan 18

"We tend to become more resilient with age and females are generally more resilient than males"

Why do some people respond better to stress than others?

Opinion: Our resilience to stress is influenced by psychosocial, external and biological factors

Stress • 12 Jan 18

"In the most recent physical activity report card, Irish children only received a C-" Photo: iStock

Are schools adding to the physical inactivity problem?

Opinion: there are still no fully evaluated, funded initiatives being delivered in Irish primary schools that aim to promote both healthy eating and physical activity

Health and Fitness • 09 Jan 18

"For most of us, walking and climbing stairs are the most obvious ways of increasing our daily activity"

Walk this way and step away from the lift

Opinion: walking instead of using the lift, escalator or moving walkway can increase your recommended daily dose of physical activity and improve your health

Walking • 09 Jan 18

"The first consideration should be what are you hoping to achieve from the activity you are about to undertake?"

The science of eating less and moving more

Opinion: when it comes to purging after the Christmas excess, people should consider a tailored approach to peri-training nutrition