MRC Epidemiology Unit
The MRC Epidemiology Unit is pleased to announce the availability of PhD student places to start in 2025/26. We investigate the causes and prevention of diabetes, obesity and related metabolic […]
Can improving cardiorespiratory fitness help prevent type 2 diabetes? Genetics may hold the answer
Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher insulin sensitivity and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but until now it hasn’t been clear if the relationship is causal, and the […]
Daily 11 minute brisk walk enough to reduce risk of early death
One in ten early deaths could be prevented if everyone managed at least half the recommended level of physical activity, say a team led by researchers at the MRC Epidemiology […]
Fitness levels can be predicted using wearable devices…and no treadmill required!
Cambridge researchers have developed a method for measuring overall fitness accurately on wearable devices – and more robustly than current consumer smartwatches and fitness monitors – without the wearer needing […]
Wearable device study in 88,000 people shows the heart health benefits of more intense physical activity
Increasing physical activity of any intensity is beneficial for health, but new research published today in the European Heart Journal shows that there is a greater reduction in cardiovascular disease […]
Reducing TV viewing to less than one hour a day could help prevent more than one in ten cases of coronary heart disease
Watching too much TV is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease regardless of an individual’s genetic makeup, say a team of scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) […]
Largest ever study using wearable devices finds physical activity is beneficial for health, and more intense activity is better
Physical activity of any intensity is beneficial for health, but more intense activity has greater benefits, according to a new study published today in Nature Medicine. In the largest study […]
Physical activity prevents almost four million early deaths worldwide each year
At least 3.9 million early deaths are being averted worldwide every year by people being physically active, according to a new study published in The Lancet Global Health today by […]
Sedentary behaviour interventions in real-world conditions: what are the health benefits?
Today’s post comes from Dr Paddy Dempsey and colleagues, describing their new paper “Effects of sedentary behaviour interventions on biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in adults: systematic review with meta-analyses”, which […]
Keeping active or becoming more active in middle and older age linked to longer life
Meeting minimum public health recommendations could prevent nearly one in two deaths linked to physical inactivity Keeping physically active or becoming more active during middle and older age is associated […]