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Exercise metabolism in 2016

Health benefits of exercise — more than meets the eye!

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Although regular physical activity can prevent or reduce the risk of many age-related diseases, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the protective effects of exercise are largely unknown. In 2016, a series of studies demonstrated that crosstalk between tissues during exercise can protect against metabolic disease, cancer, retinal degeneration and memory loss. These studies provide a molecular basis for the concept of 'exercise as medicine'.

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Figure 1: The multiple benefits of exercise.

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Acknowledgements

The author is a senior principal research fellow of The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (supported by grant APP11021168).

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  1. Division of Diabetes and Metabolism, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, NSW, Australia

    Mark A. Febbraio

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  1. Mark A. Febbraio
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Correspondence to Mark A. Febbraio.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Febbraio, M. Health benefits of exercise — more than meets the eye!. Nat Rev Endocrinol 13, 72–74 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2016.218

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