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Recent research suggests doing different types of exercise not just more of it could help you live longer

• Doing a wider variety of physical activities was linked to a lower risk of early death in a recent study.

• The benefit held steady even when total exercise time stayed the same.

• People with the most exercise variety had a 19% lower risk of premature mortality.

Weve all heard that getting enough exercise is key to staying healthybut recent research suggests how you move may matter just as much as how much.

A study highlighted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that people who regularly mix up their physical activities think walking one day, strength training another, maybe even gardening or yoga tend to live longer than those who stick to just one type.

The idea isnt to overhaul your routine overnight. Instead, the findings point to something surprisingly simple: variety itself may offer added health benefits, even if your total exercise time doesnt change

People naturally choose different activities over time based on their preferences and health conditions. When deciding how to exercise, keep in mind that there may be extra health benefits to engaging in multiple types of physical activity, rather than relying on a single type alone, corresponding author Yang Hu, research scientist in the Department of Nutrition, said in a news release.

The study

The study, published in BMJ Medicine, followed more than 111,000 adults across two long-running datasets: the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Participants were tracked for over 30 years, regularly reporting their physical activity habits from walking and running to swimming, weightlifting, and even yardwork.

Researchers didnt just look at how much people exercised. They also created a variety score, based on how many different types of activities participants did consistently. Then they compared those scores with long-term health outcomes, including deaths from all causes as well as specific conditions like heart disease and cancer.

To make the findings more reliable, the analysis accounted for other factors that could influence health, such as lifestyle habits and medical history. It also excluded participants with major diseases at the start and used long follow-up periods to better capture real-world patterns.

What the study found and why it matters

The results were striking: people with the highest variety of physical activity had a 19% lower risk of premature death compared to those with the least variety.

Whats more, that benefit showed up at every level of exercise. In other words, even if two people spent the same amount of time being active, the one who mixed in more types of movement tended to have better outcomes.

The study also found lower risks of death from major causes including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory illness among those with greater activity variety.

There are some caveats. The data relied on self-reported activity, and most participants were white health professionals, which may limit how broadly the findings apply.

Still, the takeaway is pretty approachable: instead of doing the same workout on repeat, adding a little variety whether thats trying a new class, rotating activities, or just changing up your routine could offer extra benefits over time.

Rising premiums are pushing consumers to reconsider coverage but going without it comes with real risks

• Rising health insurance premiums are pushing more Americans to question whether they can afford to keep coverage or go without it entirely.

• Online searches for cheap and lower-premium plans are surging, signaling growing financial strain and shifting consumer behavior.

• Experts warn that going uninsured can come with penalties in some states and serious financial risks, but there may still be ways to lower costs and stay covered.

As health insurance premiums climb, more consumers are starting to ask a question that once felt unthinkable: Can I afford to go without coverage altogether?

New data from healthinsurance.org suggests this isnt just a passing concern its part of a broader shift in how people are responding to higher costs.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Louise Norris, a health policy analyst at healthinsurance.org, who explained that these trends reflect mounting financial pressure but also some confusion about what going uninsured actually means. While skipping coverage might seem like a way to save money in the short term, there are still potential penalties in some states and significant financial risks if something goes wrong.

The current state of the health care market

The report from healthinsurance.org found that there has been a recent surge in search terms like "cheap health insurance" and "catastrophic health insurance."

This is indicative of a market where people are struggling with the premiums they have to pay to maintain their coverage, Norris said. The expiration of federal subsidy enhancements caused sticker shock that people began to experience last fall when they got their renewal notices for their Marketplace coverage.

Search interest in these terms has continued to grow sharply in early 2026, which could stem from the fact that nearly 9 million people let their Marketplace coverage auto-renew for 2026. Some of these enrollees might not have been aware of how much their net premiums would increase in 2026, leading to increased search interest for lower-cost coverage after the start of the year.

Driving premiums higher

Over the next several weeks, health insurance plans will be filing their proposed rates and plans for 2027 coverage. What does this mean for the future?

We haven't yet seen the proposed rates that carriers will be filing, Norris said. So a lot remains to be seen, but we do know that the individual market has a smaller overall risk pool this year, and that's expected to shrink even more once we see effectuated enrollment numbers.

And in general, it tends to be healthier people who are most likely to drop their coverage when premiums rise, leaving a smaller, less healthy pool of insureds. Over time, this will tend to drive premiums higher.

Penalties for going uninsured

For those who opt to go without health insurance, there could be consequences. Many states will leave consumers with a financial penalty for being uninsured.

Norris broke it all down:

There is a penalty in New Jersey, DC, Massachusetts, California, and Rhode Island, she said. But California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts all offer state-funded subsidies, in addition to federal subsidies, to make coverage more affordable. And DC has a Basic Health Program for residents with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

So in general, most of the states that have a penalty for being uninsured are also states that have worked to make coverage more accessible to people. All of these states have had penalties for at least several years now, so most residents are likely aware that health coverage is part of the state tax return.

Advice for Marketplace enrollees

For those who currently have Marketplace coverage and are struggling to keep up with payments but dont want to go uninsured, you have options.

It's important to understand that contributions to a pre-tax retirement account and/or an HSA (if you have HSA-eligible coverage, which now includes all Bronze and Catastrophic plans) will reduce household income, potentially making [you] eligible for larger subsidies or helping avoid the subsidy cliff, Norris said.

A recent victim recounted her experience on Fidelitys podcast

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fidelity experts warn that financial are becoming more sophisticated, with criminals using AI, impersonation, and increasingly convincing phishing, text, and voice schemes.

• Consumers of all ages are being targeted, with scammers often creating a sense of urgency or posing as trusted institutions to trick victims into revealing sensitive information.

• Simple precautions such as verifying messages independently, avoiding suspicious links, and enabling multi-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim.

A new episode of Fidelity Investments Money Unscripted podcast is sounding the alarm on a surge in increasingly sophisticated financial , warning consumers that anyone not just the elderly can fall victim.

In the episode, host Ally Donnelly and Fidelitys head of cyber defense, Sean Downey, outline how modern scammers are evolving their tactics, using everything from fake emails and text messages to AI-generated videos and voice impersonations to deceive victims.

are getting smarter and harder to detect

Cybercrime is no longer limited to poorly written phishing emails. According to Fidelitys discussion, scammers now deploy a wide range of tactics, including phishing (fraudulent emails), smishing (text-based ), and vishing (voice calls designed to extract personal information).

The growing use of artificial intelligence has made these schemes more convincing. Messages may appear polished and legitimate, while deepfake audio or video can mimic trusted individuals, increasing the likelihood that victims will comply with requests.

Cyber are everywhere, Fidelity notes in its learning materials, emphasizing the need for consumers to recognize red flags in digital communications.

Anyone can be a target

Contrary to common belief, the podcast highlights that scam victims span all demographics. While older adults are often perceived as the primary targets, younger and tech-savvy individuals are also vulnerable particularly as increasingly rely on urgency and emotional manipulation rather than obvious technical flaws.

Cybercriminals often impersonate trusted institutions, including financial firms, and may claim there is an urgent problem with an account to pressure victims into acting quickly.

Key warning signs

Fidelity experts stress that recognizing common warning signs is critical. Among the biggest red flags:

• Unexpected messages or calls requesting sensitive information

• Urgent language demanding immediate action to avoid financial loss

• Requests for passwords, codes, or account access

• Suspicious links or mismatched web addresses

Even legitimate-looking communications can be fraudulent, especially as scammers use advanced tools to mimic real organizations.

How to protect yourself

The podcast emphasizes simple but effective steps consumers can take to safeguard their finances and personal data:

• Verify communications independently by contacting companies through official channels

• Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources

• Enable multi-factor authentication on financial and personal accounts

• Keep contact information updated to receive legitimate security alerts

Experts also advise slowing down when faced with urgent requests. Taking a moment to verify information can prevent costly mistakes.

If consumers suspect theyve been targeted or compromised, Fidelity recommends acting quickly contacting financial institutions, securing accounts, and reporting the incident to appropriate authorities.