Health Scoop News – New research on 1-Healthier diet, healthier weight🍲; 2-Healthy skin, healthy brain🧠; & 3-Exercise delays aging🏃‍♀️

I always have my nose in new health research, so I’m sharing some of the most relevant studies with you in regular editions of “Health Scoop News.”

[This news summary is a bit reminiscent of my old “This week in science for holistic health” newsletters that I used to do circa 2016 (I deleted most, but here’s one post I kept live), as well as the rEATsearch podcast I used to co-host.]

Below are my top three study picks (comment below to tell me what health topics/niches are best for you!). All of these recent studies were done with dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people so they’re more clinically relevant than studies done using animals, cells, or isolated chemical reactions.

1 – Healthier diet, healthier weight, healthier planet (Win-win-win!)

Study title: Prospective association of the EAT-Lancet reference diet with body weight changes and incidence of overweight and obesity in a French cohort

This (observational cohort) study that followed 51,711 adults who reported what they ate and drank for three days every six months for at least two years, as well as their heights and weights. Participants’ dietary nutrition was calculated from their food diaries, as well as how closely their diets were to the EAT-Lancet diet. The average age of participants at the start of the study was 47.6 years old and 72.6% were female.

Here’s some background info:

• “A transition toward healthful plant-based diets serves not only as a means to prevent obesity but also to mitigate our dietary impact on natural resources and the climate.”
• “The EAT-Lancet reference diet advocates for:
  • a moderate intake of fish, eggs, poultry, and dairy products,
  • a substantially low intake of sugary and fatty products, refined cereals, and meats such as beef, pork, and lamb,
  • alongside a markedly high proportion of minimally processed plant-based foods within the diet, particularly legumes, nuts, and wholegrain products.”
• Here is the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet home page: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/
• Here is a visual infographic of the EAT-Lancet planetary diet: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/EAT-Lancet-planetary-health-diet-adapted-from-the-EAT-Lancet-Report-Willett-at-al_fig1_385584585

Here’s what the researchers studied:

• “This study sought to investigate adherence to the EAT-Lancet reference diet and its prospective association with weight changes, as well as overweight and obesity status.”
• “According to an initial review, whole grains, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fish are independently associated with a diminished risk of overweight and obesity, as well as a decrease in BW over time. This is in contrast to refined grains, red meat, and sweetened soft drinks. Furthermore, a meta-analysis encompassing 18 studies found that increased intake of red and processed meat was associated with a 37% (95% CI: 1.14, 1.64) rise in obesity risk.“
• Note: This was an observational study, so participants were not asked to make any changes to their diets. They were to eat as they normally would and they were followed for about 8.7 years (median). There was no emphasis on weight management, calorie counting, etc. Participants just lived their lives and provided their food diaries and some health metrics every six months.

Here’s what the researchers found:

• “Individuals who closely followed the EAT-Lancet reference diet had a baseline BW [body weight] reduction of 3.65 kg in the highest adherence group (Q5) compared with the lowest (Q1), and stability of BW over time. Moreover, Q5 participants had a 40% and 46% lower risk of being overweight and obese, respectively, compared with those with lesser adherence.“

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on the results of this study:

• “Diets rich in plant-based foods similar to the EAT-Lancet reference diet have demonstrated beneficial effects on weight outcomes.“
• “In conclusion, our analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between the EAT-Lancet reference diet and BW [body weight] gain over time, along with a reduced risk of becoming overweight or obese after a median follow-up of 8.7 y.”

How do eating patterns relate to body weight?

1. Energy balance (lower calorie/energy intake can lead to less weight gain over time or even weight loss)
2. Lower inflammation (due to more nutritious foods that are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants)
3. Less dysbiosis of the gut microbiome (which can reduce inflammation)

In other words, according to this multi-year study of tens of thousands of adults, the more closely one’s food choices are to a healthy plant-based diet (such as the EAT-Lancet diet), the less weight someone is likely to gain over the years, and some people (mainly men) may even lose weight. (This is based on participants’ natural food choices, not due to sticking to any particular diet or calorie regimen.)

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165%2825%2900335-1/fulltext

2 – Healthy skin, Healthy brain

Study title: Healthy skin, Healthy brain

This is a review of several studies about skin health and and aging, and how these relate to brain health via the recently coined “skin-brain axis.”

Here’s some background info:

• “Skin aging extends beyond aesthetic concerns and is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to brain aging through neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and neurochemical mechanisms.“
• “Recent literature has begun to formalize the concept of the skin–brain axis as a bidirectional communication system.”
• “This review highlights how extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and intrinsic aging disrupt skin homeostasis and trigger systemic effects on brain functions.“

Here’s what the researchers found:

• “Chronic UV exposure activates the cutaneous hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increases systemic cortisol levels, impairing hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function. UV-induced alterations in neurotransmitters including glutamate, dopamine, and β-endorphins affect learning, memory, and emotion regulation.”
• “Both photoaging and natural skin aging are associated with reduced synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the skin, potentially diminishing systemic BDNF availability, and contributing to cognitive decline.”
• There are “protective effects of sunscreen and moisturizers in mitigating cutaneous [skin] inflammation and reducing neurodegenerative risk.”
• “Topical or dietary interventions, such as plant-derived polyphenols, may restore skin BDNF levels and enhance skin-brain resilience.”
• Here is a good infographic that shows that sunscreen, moisturizers, and lemon/tomato extracts can help to reduce damage and restore skin to minimize negative impacts on brain functions such as memory and cognition: https://www.jdsjournal.com/cms/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2025.06.001/asset/f66cd090-84a5-4ee5-8543-5ab5933edf69/main.assets/ga1_lrg.jpg

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on the results of this study:

• “Preserving skin health is not only a dermatological goal, but also a promising strategy for mitigating brain aging and promoting cognitive resilience.“
• Also, most of the studies to-date have not been done with humans, so this review can help to justify investment in future clinical studies.

In other words, the natural aging process as well as UV-induced stress on the skin negatively impacts the skin, and this also negatively impacts the brain via the skin-brain axis. 

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://www.jdsjournal.com/article/S0923-1811(25)00117-3/fulltext

For a list of dozens of credible sites to find health information, plus some PubMed tips, download your free guide here:

3 – Exercise delays aging

Study title: Exercise delays aging: evidence from telomeres and telomerase -a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This is a review of the current scientific literature (16 randomized control trials) where a “control group maintained a regular lifestyle without exercise, while the experimental group received exercise intervention (minimum 16 weeks, ≥60 min/week). Outcome indicators: TL [telomere length] and TA [telomerase activity].”

Here’s some background info:

• Telomere length (TL) = “Telomere shortening is a well-known hallmark of both cellular senescence and organismal aging. An accelerated rate of telomere attrition is also a common feature of age-related diseases. Therefore, telomere length (TL) has been recognized for a long time as one of the best biomarkers of aging. ” (ref)
• Telomerase activity (TA) = “The size of critically short (“uncapped”) telomeres may be stabilized by telomerase, a reverse transcriptase enzyme that can elongate chromosome ends.” (ref)
• “TL and TA are robust biomarkers of cellular aging, reflecting replication potential more directly than oxidative stress or inflammatory markers.”
• Developing interventions that can slow down the aging process or reduce the incidence of aging-related diseases has become an urgent task, which also holds significant application value in improving the quality of life and reducing medical costs. . . . Various genetic, dietary, exercise, and drug interventions can extend lifespan. . . [and] contribute to delaying the onset of age – related diseases.”
• “In recent years, research has revealed the importance of telomere length (TL) and its integrity in the aging process, as well as potential interventions to delay aging, such as physical exercise and a healthy diet.”

Here’s what the researchers were looking at:

• “To systematically evaluate the regulatory effects of exercise intervention on telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA), and to provide evidence for formulating precise exercise prescriptions based on telomere protection.”

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on the results of their review of the scientific literature on this topic:

• “Exercise maintains TL and enhances TA, potentially contributing to delayed aging.”

“Exercise prescriptions include:

• TL maintenance: HIIT [high intensity interval training] , ≥16 weeks, ≥60 min/week, 80%–90% max heart rate, pending further validation.
• TA enhancement: AE [aerobic exercise] (e.g., running, swimming), ≥150 min/week, 60%–75% heart rate reserve, ≥6 months.
• Comprehensive strategy: Combine AE and RE [resistance exercise] (e.g., Taijiquan) for synergistic effects.”

In other words, regular HIIT exercise for at least 60 minutes/week for a minimum of 16 weeks helps to delay aging by maintaining telomere length and aerobic exercise for at least 150 min/week for a minimum of 6 months can help delay aging by enhancing telomerase activity.

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12241061/

Signing off and toasting: To keeping up with the latest and greatest scientific research in nutrition, fitness, and health coaching!

Over to you

Do you have a specific question about any of these new studies?

Are you looking for a easy-to-understand study summary that you can share with your audience and clients?

What health topic/niche is most important to you?

Let me know in the comments below!