Food Health and Exercise
The pandemic quickly changed the way we live. For some people this meant more time to exercise or an increased focus on their wellbeing, but for others it has meant their usual exercise routine, including participation in team sports or trips to the gym, has been disrupted. Some people stopped exercising completely for a complex number of reasons. We have done extensive research to examine these changes and to help people understand why their motivation or routine has been impacted.
Our work in this area is expansive. From understanding the broader benefits of exercise for mental health, to improving the performance of elite athletes through highly credible work in the field of biomechanics, which aims to reduce injuries, we study all aspects of sport, exercise and health.
We work collaboratively, sharing insights with our food researchers to understand the complex relationship between eating, nutrition, mental health and exercise both for athletes and the general public, and what impact societal and environmental changes have on what we eat and how active we are.
How we're Powering Progress
Alumni expert view: good gut health and how to improve it
Herts alumna Saskia Inniss (BSc Nutrition, 2018) talks about the benefits of good gut health and how to improve it with your diet.
Hiking workouts aren’t just good for your body – they’re good for your mind too
The popularity of hiking has spiked during the pandemic, seeing many more people taking to trails.
Exercise and eating in the pandemic
Dr. Lindsay Bottoms and Dr. Lindsy Kass discuss how the lockdowns have impacted people’s physical activity habits and how these insights can help get people more active again.
Sitting it out
How lockdown life affected people’s exercise and eating habits.
Maintaining motivation
Professor Richard Wiseman shares his advice for successfully adopting healthier habits post-lockdown.
Key facts: food, health and exercise
A year of change, how the pandemic affected our exercise habits.
Hertfordshire Sports Village opens clinic to support long COVID sufferers
One in five people who have tested positive will continue to experience symptoms after five weeks.
Pandemic increases use of image and performance enhancing drugs
How lockdown life affected people’s exercise and eating habits.