A major study has investigated the relationship between walking and the risk of developing chronic lower back problems. The findings could save the healthcare system significant amounts of money while also alleviating many people's back pain - if we just follow the simple advice provided.
The results are clear: People who walk a lot have less back pain than people who do not walk much - and the volume is what matters most, not the intensity.. It is better to walk a lot than to walk fast.
"People who walk more than 100 minutes every day have a 23 per cent lower risk of lower back problems than those who walk 78 minutes or less," said Rayane Haddadj.
He is a PhD candidate at the Department of Public Health and Nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and is part of a research group that specifically studies musculoskeletal disorders.
The results of the new study were published in the JAMA Network Open journal. The article has already received a lot of attention.
Even leisurely strolls are beneficial
It probably comes as no surprise that physical activity is good for your back, but until now we have not actually known whether the amount of low-intensity walking we do also helps.
"Intensity also plays a role in the risk of long-term back problems, but not as much as the daily amount of walking," emphasized Haddadj.
A total of 11,194 people participated in the study, which is part of the Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT Study). What makes this study unique is that the volume and intensity of daily walking were measured using two sensors that participants wore on their thigh and back for up to a week.
The results may be important in relation to preventing chronic back problems. Until now, there has been little research on the prevention of these types of musculoskeletal problems. It is well known that physical activity can prevent a wide range of illnesses and ailments. This study is important because it confirms that physical activity, and especially daily walking, can help prevent long-term lower back problems.
Back pain is a very common ailment
"The findings highlight the importance of finding time to be physically active - to prevent both chronic back problems and a number of other diseases. Over time, this could lead to major savings for society," said Paul Jarle Mork, a professor at NTNU's Department of Public Health and Nursing.
Back and neck problems cost society several billion kroner every year. Musculoskeletal disorders are likely the largest expense within the Norwegian healthcare system.
Back pain is one of the most common health problems in Norway. Depending on what you include, between 60 and 80 per cent of us will experience back problems at some point in our lives. At any given time, around one in five Norwegians has back trouble.
The causes are many and complex, but the solution might be as simple as putting on your shoes and going for a walk - each and every day.
Forever chemicals known as PFAS have turned up in an unexpected place: beer. Researchers tested 23 different beers from across the U.S. and found that 95% contained PFAS, with the highest concentrations showing up in regions with known water contamination. The findings reveal how pollution in municipal water supplies can infiltrate popular products, raising concerns for both consumers and brewers.
FULL STORY
Researchers found PFAS in 95% of tested beers, showing a clear link to contaminated local water supplies. Credit: Shutterstock
Infamous for their environmental persistence and potential links to health conditions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called forever chemicals, are being discovered in unexpected places, including beer. Researchers publishing in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology tested beers brewed in different areas around the U.S. for these substances. They found that beers produced in parts of the country with known PFAS-contaminated water sources showed the highest levels of forever chemicals.
"As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints," says research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon. "I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours."
PFAS are human-made chemicals produced for their water-, oil- and stain-repellent properties. They have been found in surface water, groundwater and municipal water supplies across the U.S. and the world. Although breweries typically have water filtration and treatment systems, they are not designed to remove PFAS. By modifying a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing method for analyzing levels of PFAS in drinking water, Hoponick Redmon and colleagues tested 23 beers. The test subjects were produced by U.S. brewers in areas with documented water system contamination, plus popular domestic and international beers from larger companies with unknown water sources.
The researchers found a strong correlation between PFAS concentrations in municipal drinking water and levels in locally brewed beer -- a phenomenon that Hoponick Redmon and colleagues say has not yet been studied in U.S. retail beer. They found PFAS in 95% of the beers they tested. These include perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two forever chemicals with recently established EPA limits in drinking water. Notably, the team found that beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, an area with known PFAS pollution, had the highest levels and most diverse mix of forever chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA.
This work shows that PFAS contamination at one source can spread into other products, and the researchers call for greater awareness among brewers, consumers and regulators to limit overall PFAS exposure. These results also highlight the possible need for water treatment upgrades at brewing facilities as PFAS regulations in drinking water change or updates to municipal water system treatment are implemented.
The authors acknowledge funding from an internal research grant from RTI International.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, Nicole M. DeLuca, Evan Thorp, Chamindu Liyanapatirana, Laura Allen, Andrew J. Kondash. Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages. Environmental Science, 2025; 59 (17): 8368 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c11265[1]
Cite This Page:
American Chemical Society. "Toxic “forever chemicals” found in 95% of beers tested in the U.S.." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 September 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250911073204.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2025, September 12). Toxic “forever chemicals” found in 95% of beers tested in the U.S.. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 12, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250911073204.htm
American Chemical Society. "Toxic “forever chemicals” found in 95% of beers tested in the U.S.." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250911073204.htm (accessed September 12, 2025).
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