The buddy boost: how ‘accountability partners’ make you healthy, happy and more successful

The idea of a friend who helps you commit to your goals is growing in popularity – whether you want to get fit, write a novel or build your business

Shock of the old: 12 torturous and orgasmic exercise fads

Want to get fighting fit? Try a vibrating belt or a rocking saddle – almost as effective as riding a horse!

I know sitting is bad for me. But how can I cut back when it’s so much fun?

I eat my greens and I look after my gums. There’s not much I won’t do for the sake of my health. But this? Get lost, writes Emma Beddington

My mind was poisoned by diet culture. Then I tried weightlifting

In the Ozempic era, the craze for thinness is everywhere. But if you concentrate specifically on what your body can do, it is sometimes possible to rearrange your brain, writes Zing Tsjeng

Fitness fads come and go, so why not walk away from the pressure to count your daily steps?

A 22-minute brisk daily walk is the new magic number, but when I’m not watching the clock, I lose track of time – in the best possible way

Should I worry about getting less exercise in winter?

As the light levels fall and the temperature drops, is it OK to just hunker down and take it easy till spring? Or will that bring on the blues?

Brisk 22-minute walk could offset harmful effects of sitting, study suggests

People who sit for long periods more likely to die earlier – but moderate-to-vigorous activity can eliminate risk

Where did I find the courage to talk to my mum about her cancer? At parkrun, far behind the racers

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people get off their sofas to cover 5km in their local park. Like me, a growing number are there to walk rather than run – and to talk about their deepest feelings

Exercise is the prescription that every cancer patient deserves – and one they’re in control of

Mounting evidence shows even moderate exercise can be a valuable companion to cancer treatment

Don’t cheer the scale: doctors and dieticians untangling body size from health

Healthcare professionals, from advanced sports dieticians to general practitioners, are increasingly trading a focus on weight for other, more robust health measures

Embrace the climb! How stairs can super-charge your fitness in seconds

They’re everywhere, they’re free and low-impact. No wonder more and more people are ditching long runs – and taking the stairs instead

Should I worry about my twitchy eye?

It’s most likely due to tiredness, stress or too much screen use – but it can indicate a more serious condition

Minority communities are edged out of the UK’s green spaces. I’m trying to change that

Access to nature should be a fundamental right, but so many barriers are still in place. Here’s how we can tear them down, says mountaineer Haroon Mota

Cold water immersion therapy: do the benefits outweigh the risks?

The health and wellbeing effects of plunging into icy water are well documented – but how dangerous is it?

Run at 40, dance at 80: the best ways to exercise in every decade of your life

Tennis, running, weights, yoga … all exercise is good, but certain sports have more of an impact at a particular age. Here’s what you should be doing – and when