Health and medicine press releases

An animated image of a single test tube surrounded by snowflakes to indicate egg freezing

Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez is freezing her eggs – here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of doing the same

An opinion piece written by Dr Kylie Baldwin for The Conversation platform.
a couple walking a dog

The physical activity paradox: not all forms of exercise lower your dementia risk – this type raises it

An opinion piece written by Professor Eef Hogervorst for The Conversation platform.
Seated images of Russell, Abigail and Thomas

New health tool could help prevent avoidable deaths in people with learning disabilities, researchers say

Researchers have developed a digital tool that can identify future health risks in people with learning disabilities, which they believe could help prevent avoidable deaths.
Dumb bells and weight-loss drug injector pens

New study raises concerns over use of weight-loss drugs in elite sport

A new international study – led by Loughborough University – has raised concerns about the use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, in elite sport, with experts calling for greater education, monitoring and research.

Inspired by the Commonwealth Games? Here's how to make exercise stick

Major sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games often inspire people to become more active. For many though, this surge in motivation can fade within weeks.
glass of protein powder and some weights

Think your supplements are helping? A sports nutritionist explains what works and what doesn't

From green powders promoted on TikTok to performance pills promising instant gains, supplements have become a multi-billion-pound industry. But do they aid sport performance? We caught up with Bethan Crouse, Performance Nutritionist at Loughborough University, to find out whether supplements really are beneficial to our health and fitness.

A group of rugby players with their heads together in a match

What repeated blows to the head in sport may mean for dementia risk

An opinion piece written by Professor Eef Hogervorst for The Conversation platform.
a cartoon showing 'hello' in different languages

Can speaking multiple languages really lower dementia risk? It’s not that simple

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences for The Conversation platform.
A jug of milk being poured into a glass on top of a wooden board

New review finds milk lipid bioactives improve key heart health markers

Researchers at Loughborough University have led a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on milk lipid bioactives, naturally occurring components of dairy fat, with findings indicating beneficial effects on key markers of cardiovascular health.
a sportsman drinking water

What the World Cup hydration breaks reveal about who governs men’s football

An opinion piece authored by Dr Mathew Dowling and Haojin Zhou (both School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences) for The Conversation platform.
A baby sat with a tablet

Avoid intentional screen time for under-twos, researchers recommend

Using screens during the first 1001 days of life can lead to developmental concerns for the next generation, researchers warn, as a world-first study calls for more thorough assessments of the risks screen time can pose to babies.
A football flying through the air with a blazing sun in the background

England's toughest challenge at the 2026 World Cup may not be another team – it could be the heat, expert explains

From reduced running distances to slower recovery and disrupted sleep, high temperatures can have a significant impact on elite athletes.

a person running on a treadmill

Beating the heat: England official prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026 with Loughborough Sport

With temperatures set to soar at the FIFA Men’s World Cup this summer, marginal gains can make all the difference to those at football’s biggest tournament.
A Palestinian man in a face mask speaks to a person in a car

"It felt like being trapped twice": How young people in Gaza found hope during COVID lockdowns

Young people in Gaza turned to writing, friendship and small moments of joy to cope with what researchers describe as a "double lockdown" during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from Loughborough University.
a woman sneezing into a tissue

Hay fever, antihistamines and the evidence on dementia risk

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences for The Conversation platform.
woman cycling on bike indoors

Spending time in nature could boost endurance by 7.5%, new research finds

Spending time in natural environments before exercise could boost physical endurance by 7.5% compared with exposure to an urban industrial setting, according to new research from Loughborough University, suggesting that access to green spaces may support human physical capacity in ways that go beyond simple recreation.
an athete swimming

The Enhanced Games: ‘dangerous clown show’ or a wake up call for traditional sport?

An opinion piece authored by Dr Mathew Dowling and Dr Alex Thurston (both Loughborough University) and Jinsu Byun (Yonsei University) for The Conversation platform.
Construction worker struggling in the heat with hard hat

Why there’s no legal “too hot to work” temperature in the UK

The UK is currently enjoying some long-awaited sunshine. But temperatures have risen at a time when the UK government has been advised to set maximum working temperature rules, so many are asking the same question: How hot is too hot to work?

a runner in action

Ultra-endurance athletes reveal how the human body prioritises survival under stress

A new study observing ultra-endurance athletes during competition has uncovered rare insights into how the body reallocates energy across essential biological functions whilst under extreme physical stress.
a man lying awake in bed

How scientists changed their view of insomnia

An opinion piece authored by Dr Iuliana Hartescu, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University.
a close up of a football in a fire machine in sports tech

New research identifies previously unreported pressure wave energy transfer to the brain from football headers

A new study has identified a previously unreported mechanism of energy transfer to the brain from football headers – a finding that could prove significant in understanding the mechanics of headers and inform future research into long-term player health.
a woman running

Major breakthrough in improved insurance products for female sports stars

Female athletes are set to benefit from changes to insurance products that reflect their real-world needs as the government continues to drive a Decade of Change in women’s and girls’ sport.

A football player taking a corner on the pitch with the bottom half of the body visible

New research provides blueprint to protect player health and performance at the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup

This summer’s Men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup will expose players to an unprecedented combination of environmental challenges across the host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
a child stool on weighing scales

Primary care behavioural programmes can help reduce childhood obesity, new study finds

Children who are overweight or living with obesity can significantly improve their health through primary care weight-management programmes, according to a new study.
a woman looking a pill packet

Hormone therapy and dementia risk: what a new study says about menopause treatment

An opinion piece authored by Professor Eef Hogervorst, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University.