Health & Wellness

Kobe – September 30, 2026 -- ASICS has issued what it calls the world's first conservation warning for human movement, after new research found people report spending 86% of their waking day not moving.

The Japanese sportswear brand released the findings ahead of World Mental Health Day, alongside a short nature documentary titled Human Nature, narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver. The film explores how sofas, screens and modern convenience are quietly replacing everyday movement.

More than half of adults fail to meet activity guidelines today

The global study, conducted in July 2026 among 34,000 people across 31 countries, found 53% of adults are not meeting recommended physical activity guidelines. ASICS worked with experts, including Professor Brendon Stubbs, to create a Movement Conservation Status, classifying weekly activity as active, at risk, or endangered based on WHO and national health guidelines.

Houston – September 29, 2026 -- Fitness Connection will remain open at its Greenspoint Mall location throughout construction of the $150 million CityNorth industrial park redevelopment before relocating to a new 45,000-square-foot facility on the same site.

Fitness Connection is the last business standing in Greenspoint Mall

The gym opened inside Greenspoint Mall in March 2005 and is now the only remaining tenant as other businesses have moved out over the years. The chain is partnering with developers Lincoln and New York Life Real Estate to keep its doors open as demolition begins.

Demolition starts in October 2026

Mall demolition is slated to begin next month and is expected to support approximately 300 construction jobs, with the finished redevelopment projected to accommodate 1,200 full-time jobs.

Atlanta – September 29, 2026 -- Patients considering peptide treatments now have a clear checklist for confirming whether the person prescribing their medication is actually licensed, according to a new HelloNation article featuring insights from Wellness Expert Andres Giraldo.

The article argues that legitimate peptide care should make it easy to identify who is responsible for a patient's treatment. A first name, a title, or a vague reference to a "care team" is not sufficient to confirm who is actually making prescribing decisions.

State license lookup tools confirm a clinician's active status.

Most states maintain a public license lookup through their medical or nursing board. Searching a clinician's name there shows whether the license is active, in good standing, and free of public disciplinary action, ruling out expired licenses as well as those under investigation, suspended, or restricted.

Austin, Texas – September 29, 2026 -- HealthCode and Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI) are inviting people of all ages to join the "No Barriers" virtual activity challenge throughout October, timed to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Participants log miles or minutes on an online tracker starting October 1

Registration opens on the No Barriers sign-up page, where individuals or organizations can track walking, running, biking, rolling, or stretching activity. A program leaderboard updates throughout the month with results from participants worldwide. Employers and organizations can register separately at healthcode.org/organizations.

Englewood – September 29, 2026 -- Undergraduate students across the United States pursuing medicine can now apply for the newly launched Dr. Jihad Mustapha Medical Student Scholarship, a one-time award designed to offset the costs of pre-medical and early medical studies.

The fund targets financial barriers facing pre-med students

Dr. Jihad A. Mustapha, an interventional cardiologist and educator, established the scholarship to help talented students focus on academic excellence and clinical preparation rather than financial strain. His career spans decades of clinical practice, research, and teaching, with a focus on cardiovascular and vascular medicine.

Applications open through the scholarship's official website

Students can apply through the program's dedicated site, where guidelines, required documentation, and submission deadlines are listed.

New York – September 29, 2026 -- EssilorLuxottica has launched Nuance Audio Plus, an upgraded version of its invisible hearing glasses, now available in the United States with a recommended retail price starting at $829 depending on lens configuration.

The glasses are FDA-cleared for mild to moderate hearing loss

Nuance Audio Plus is cleared for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and builds on the original Nuance Audio Glasses, which debuted a year ago. The device combines vision correction and hearing support in a single frame, using open-ear speakers built into the temples so ears stay uncovered.

Newark, N.J. – September 29, 2026 -- SNICKERS and adidas are releasing their first joint football cleat, the ADIZERO ELECTRIC + II, priced at $180 and landing exclusively at adidas.com/us/football-cleats starting October 10 in limited quantities.

The cleat hides a Halloween twist inside a chocolate-brown shell

The design pairs SNICKERS' signature chocolate-brown colorway with adidas' Adizero platform, built with a synthetic and textile upper for a snug, adaptive fit and a lightweight build meant for speed and agility. A lace closure keeps the shoe secure, while a ghoulish green insole and a SNICKERS lace charm nod to the approaching Halloween season.

Temecula, Calif. – September 29, 2026 -- Fitness 19 has published a new guide, "How to Use Apps to Effectively Track Your Workouts," aimed at helping gym-goers pick the right digital tool to log their training.

Apps fall into three distinct categories

The guide sorts fitness apps into strength trackers, which log sets, reps, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE); endurance trackers, which record splits, elevation gain, and heart rate; and holistic trackers, which monitor workouts alongside nutrition, sleep, and recovery data.

New York – September 29, 2026 -- Ian Lopatin, co-founder of the lifestyle brand Spiritual Gangster and of the Of Course Sanctuary wellness community, will release his debut book, "The Way of a Spiritual Gangster," on October 10, 2026, through Mark Victor Hansen Library publishing.

The book argues stress is not a required cost of success

A former entertainment lawyer with three decades in business, Lopatin uses the book to challenge the belief that high achievers must trade peace and presence for results. He frames the work as an alternative approach to performance built on clarity and purpose rather than pressure.

"I believe the biggest lie high performers have been told is that stress is the price of success," Lopatin said. "You don't need to suffer through your life or change it, you need to change the state you're living it from."

Stockholm – September 29, 2026 -- Visit Sweden has launched The Introvert Travel Agency, a new service designed to help travelers plan trips with minimal social pressure and more control over solo time.

Survey data shows most travelers want optional, not expected, socializing

A YouGov survey commissioned by Visit Sweden found that 67% of travelers prefer destinations where social interaction feels optional. The same research shows 53% would pay extra for more peace, privacy or fewer crowds, while 41% of respondents identify as introverts, 45% as a mix of both, and only 14% as extroverts. Nearly half of respondents said they sometimes need a "vacation from their vacation" to recover after traveling.