Scott A Lear
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Articles by Scott A Lear
Sédentarité : voici ce que le manque d’activité physique fait à votre corps
La pratique régulière d’une activité physique peut améliorer la santé mentale, réduire les risques de maladie et prolonger l’espérance de vie. L’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) recommande aux adultes de pratiquer au moins 150 minutes d’activité physique modérée (marche rapide, vélo, etc.) ou 75 minutes d’activité intense (course à pied, tennis, etc.), ainsi que deux séances de renforcement musculaire par semaine.
How sitting for long periods affects the body – and how to combat that in the office
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, tennis), along with at least two strengthening sessions, per week. But only 73% of adults meet these guidelines worldwide, and 51% of Canadian adults are considered physically inactive.
How sitting for long periods affects the body – and how to combat that in the office
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, tennis), along with at least two strengthening sessions, per week. But only 73% of adults meet these guidelines worldwide, and 51% of Canadian adults are considered physically inactive.
Just how bad for you is sitting at your desk all day?
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. By Scott Lear for The Conversation The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, tennis), along with at least two strengthening sessions, per week.
Not getting enough physical activity may be harming your health: Here's what being sedentary does to your body
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, tennis), along with at least two strengthening sessions, per week.
Not getting enough physical activity may be harming your health: Here’s what being sedentary does to your body
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. What is physical inactivity? Physical inactivity is defined as not meeting the minimum guidelines for being active. Being physically inactive, however, doesn’t mean you’re not active at all. You could still be doing light activity, like general walking or household chores — just not moderate or vigorous activity.
Not getting enough physical activity may be harming your health: Here’s what being sedentary does to your body
By Scott Lear, Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University From a biological perspective, being inactive is more than the opposite of being active. Being sedentary results in unique physiological changes that can lead to a variety of health risks. Read complete article © The Conversation -
Not getting enough physical activity may be harming your health: Here’s what being sedentary does to your body Original
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running, tennis), along with at least two strengthening sessions, per week.
How to Keep Your Physical and Mental Health On Track During the Holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
The Science Behind Building Healthy Habits Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year. At the same time, resolutions can bring focus to an area that’s important to you. I research the importance of behaviours to health, and write the Become Your Healthiest You blog.
Who thrives in Canada? An Examination of social factors, healthcare access, and immigration status
Loading metrics Open Access Peer-reviewed Research Article Citation: Anand SS, Patel S, Lear SA, Dummer TJ, Ho V, Tardif J-C, et al. (2025) Who thrives in Canada? An Examination of social factors, healthcare access, and immigration status. PLOS Glob Public Health 5(12): e0005257. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0005257 Editor: Isdore Chola Shamputa, University of New Brunswick, CANADA Received: July 9, 2025; Accepted: October 28, 2025; Published: December 4, 2025 Copyright: © 2025 Anand et al.
Volume 46 Issue 30
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Is No Amount of Alcohol Safe? Understanding Risks and Public Health Guidelines
By Scott Lear, Simon Fraser University The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol. I’m a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviours relate to the disease.
Is no amount of alcohol safe?
The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol. I’m a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviours relate to the disease. I also write a blog on the role health behaviours play in your health.
Is no amount of alcohol safe?
The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol. I’m a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviours relate to the disease. I also write a blog on the role health behaviours play in your health.
Is no amount of alcohol safe?
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Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines
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Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines Original
The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol. I'm a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviors relate to the disease. I also write a blog on the role health behaviors play in your health.
Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines
© 2025 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines
The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol. I’m a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviours relate to the disease. I also write a blog on the role health behaviours play in your health.
The Science Behind Building Healthy Habits Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
| January 20th, 2025 Strategies like setting SMART goals and enlisting social support can help turn resolutions into habits. Photo: Photo: Daria Kulkova/Getty Images Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year.
The Science Behind Building Healthy Habits Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
| January 16th, 2025 Strategies like setting SMART goals and enlisting social support can help turn resolutions into habits. Photo: Photo: Daria Kulkova/Getty Images Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
Assessing the built environment through photographs and its association with obesity in 21 countries: the PURE Study
Introduction The concept of healthy cities is based on growing evidence that the built environment can affect cardiometabolic health outcomes.1 Several studies and systematic reviews have shown associations between built environment measures, particularly measures of a neighbourhood's walkability, and health outcomes, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.2–6 Communities in the USA, Canada, and Australia with high walkability scores, indicating a built environment amenable to walking,...
Cities are Planting Trees — Why Not Make Them Fruit Trees? - Blue Zones
By Marigo Farr, originally published by Grist Garrison Hines would spend all of his time growing food if he could. The ironworker from Philadelphia developed a passion for farming in 2018 when an urban gardener showed him a mulberry tree, which produces fruit similar to blackberries. Although Hines had visited an apple orchard as a kid, that mulberry was the first tree he realized could be harvested near his home. They’re all around the city, the gardener told him. Hines had no idea.
How Exercise Can Help Prevent and Treat Mental Health Problems
| May 7th, 2024 Numerous studies indicate exercise is an effective treatment for people with existing depression and other mental illnesses. Photo: Halfpoint/Getty Images Mental health problems affect one in five people every year. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that by the age of 40, about half of people will either have had a mental illness or will currently be dealing with one. Behavioural therapy and medications are common first options for treatment.
Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Trail Runners
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Approach-oriented resolutions more likely to be successful
THE CONVERSATION — Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year. At the same time, resolutions can bring focus to an area that’s important to you. I researched the importance of behaviours to health and wrote the Become Your Healthiest You blog.
How the science behind healthy habits can help you keep your new year’s resolution
Opinion: Resolutions with a SMART foundation — they're Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely — are more likely to deliver results. Published Jan 06, 2024 • Last updated Jan 07, 2024 • 5 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Up to 80 per cent of new year's resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. Using scientifically proven steps can make them stick, writes Scott Lear.
The Science Behind Building Healthy Habits Can Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
| January 5th, 2024 Strategies like setting SMART goals and enlisting social support can help turn resolutions into habits. Photo: Photo: Daria Kulkova/Getty Images Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year.
Scientific strategies on how to keep your New Year resolutions
Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80% of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year. At the same time, resolutions can bring focus to an area that’s important to you. I research the importance of behaviours to health, and write the Become Your Healthiest You blog.
Here's A Scientific Guide To Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions
Already a subscriber? Log in . You've reached your limit of one free article. You can cancel anytime . Exclusive International news coverage Ad-free experience NEW Weekly digital Magazine NEW 9 daily & weekly Newsletters Access to Worldcrunch archives 30-days free access, then $2.90 per month. Annual Access BEST VALUE $19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing.save $14.90. Society Most common resolutions are health-related. Society Most common resolutions are health-related.
The science behind building healthy habits can help you keep your New Year's resolution
Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80% of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year. At the same time, resolutions can bring focus to an area that's important to you. I research the importance of behaviors to health, and write the Become Your Healthiest You blog.
The science behind building healthy habits can help you keep your New Year's resolution
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
The science behind building healthy habits can help you keep your New Year's resolution
© 2024 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
The science behind building healthy habits can help you keep your New Year's resolution Original
Every New Year, millions of people make resolutions, with the most common resolutions being health-related. Despite their popularity, up to 80 per cent of resolutions fail, mostly within a few weeks. As a result, many people make the same resolutions year after year. At the same time, resolutions can bring focus to an area that’s important to you. I research the importance of behaviours to health, and write the Become Your Healthiest You blog.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it's a workplace party, a friend's get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
Ignoring routine exercises while on a holiday can lead to health hazards
Holidays also present numerous opportunities to get in a lot of activity — from shopping in markets to walking around your neighbourhood looking at the decorations. You can also get into the holiday spirit by singing Christmas carols. Singing can reduce anxiety, potentially increase your lung capacity and increase the number of infection-fighting molecules in your blood.
How to keep your physical & mental health on track during the holidays
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Author: Scott Lear, Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays
© 2023 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
How to keep your physical and mental health on track during the holidays Original
With the festive season upon us, many people will be gathering with family and friends, whether it’s a workplace party, a friend’s get-together or a quiet night at home watching Christmas movies. While enjoyable, these events can disrupt your healthy lifestyle habits. A recent survey reported nearly 45 per cent of people take a break from exercise during the holidays, more than half say they feel more tired and have less time for themselves, and about one-third report drinking more.
THE CONVERSATION: Exercise can help prevent and treat mental health problems, and taking it outside adds another boost to those benefits
THE CONVERSATION Numerous studies indicate exercise as an effective treatment for people with existing depression and other mental illnesses, and exercising in nature can further improve mental well-being. Mental health problems affect one in five people every year. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that by the age of 40, about half of people will either have had a mental illness or will currently be dealing with one.
Scott Lear: Exercise has the power to help prevent and treat depression — research proves it
Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Opinion: Taking your activity outside in nature boosts the benefits. I logged many hours on trails and It was a key part of my recovery. Article content In December 2021, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts. Looking back, I was probably suffering from depression for several years before seeking help and getting diagnosed.
Scott Lear: Exercise has the power to help prevent and treat depression — research proves it
Opinion: Taking your activity outside in nature boosts the benefits. I logged many hours on trails and It was a key part of my recovery. Parks Canada recognized the benefits of exercising in nature by partnering with a health organization to allow doctors to prescribe Adult Parks Canada Discovery Passes to patients to enable them to spend time outdoors.
Outside Exercise Can Help Prevent and Treat Mental Health Problems Original
Levels of the stress hormone cortisol are reduced with as little as 20 minutes in a city park. (Shutterstock) Mental health problems affect one in five people every year. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that by the age of 40, about half of people will either have had a mental illness or will currently be dealing with one. Behavioural therapy and medications are common first options for treatment.
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