New research from Hong Kong suggests that people seeking to reduce belly fat and improve heart health may not need to exercise several times a week to see results.

A study published in Nature Communications found that interval training performed once weekly can be just as effective as exercising three times a week, provided the total amount of exercise remains the same.

The findings may offer encouragement to people struggling to maintain regular fitness routines due to work, family responsibilities or limited time.

Researchers at the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong focused on abdominal obesity, a condition closely linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and a higher risk of premature death. Excess fat around the abdomen is considered particularly harmful because it surrounds vital organs and contributes to serious long-term health problems.

The study examined whether fewer but concentrated exercise sessions could deliver similar benefits to more frequent training schedules.

The research team tested a form of exercise known as interval training, which combines short bursts of intense activity with periods of slower movement or rest. In this case, participants alternated brisk walking with slower walking.

Scientists say interval training can burn visceral fat more quickly than steady, continuous exercise because of the repeated shifts in intensity.

The clinical trial ran from September 2021 to September 2024 and involved 315 adults in Hong Kong who had abdominal obesity.

Participants were divided into three groups. One group completed 75 minutes of interval training in a single weekly session. A second group performed the same total of 75 minutes divided into three 25-minute sessions each week. A third control group received only health education and did not participate in the exercise programme.

After 16 weeks, both exercise groups recorded similar improvements.

Researchers found reductions in total body fat, body fat percentage and waist circumference regardless of whether participants exercised once or three times weekly. Cardiorespiratory fitness, which measures how efficiently the heart and lungs function during activity, also improved to nearly the same degree in both groups.

Professor Parco Siu Ming-Fai, head of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study, said the findings challenge common assumptions about workout frequency.

“Current guidelines usually recommend exercising three times a week, but our study shows that if the total weekly exercise time stays the same, splitting it into fewer, higher-quality sessions produces similar results,” he said.

Researchers believe the results could help shape more flexible exercise recommendations, especially for people who find it difficult to commit to frequent gym visits while still aiming to manage weight and improve overall health.

Greek patients are waiting close to two years on average to gain access to new medicines, while an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies are reportedly choosing not to launch innovative treatments in the country at all, according to new industry data.

Findings presented by the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and data analytics firm IQVIA show that Greece continues to lag behind much of Europe in both the availability and speed of access to new therapies, particularly in areas such as cancer care, rare diseases and chronic conditions.

Between 2021 and 2024, the European Medicines Agency approved 168 new medicines, yet only 69 have reached the Greek market. Of those, just 36 are fully reimbursed and freely accessible to patients. The remainder are available only through restricted pathways, leaving Greek patients with full access to only about one in five new treatments.

A separate analysis covering 214 newly approved medicines from 2022 to 2025 found an even starker picture, with only around 20 percent currently available in Greece.

“Three out of five innovative medicines will not be available in the coming years to Greek patients,” said SFEE president Olympios Papadimitriou, warning that limited treatment options could have serious consequences for patients with cancer, blood disorders and rare diseases.

Delays remain a major concern. It takes an average of 641 days for a new medicine to move from European approval to reimbursement in Greece, compared with 158 days in Germany, 363 days in Austria and 441 days in Italy. The European average stands at 597 days.

The study also shows that Greece’s overall availability rate for new medicines is 41 percent, below the European average of 45 percent and far behind Germany at 93 percent.

Researchers say the situation is worsening. Data indicates that 62 percent of new medicines introduced in recent years are now expected never to reach the Greek market, up from 49 percent previously. Even among medicines already priced in Greece, only a small fraction are expected to remain accessible in the future.

Pharmaceutical companies point to Greece’s financial framework as a key barrier, particularly compulsory clawback and rebate mechanisms designed during the country’s debt crisis. Industry representatives argue that while these measures once aimed to control excessive spending, they are now discouraging companies from launching new treatments.

“We are victims of the Memoranda,” said SFEE director general Michalis Cheimonas, calling for a more stable and transparent pharmaceutical spending system supported by stronger digital controls and clearer budgeting.

Concerns are also rising over proposed changes to Greece’s reference pricing system, which could extend waiting times for new medicines by several months.

Across Europe, access to innovation remains uneven. While the EU approves new therapies centrally, national reimbursement systems ultimately determine availability, creating wide disparities between countries.

For patients in Greece, however, the issue remains urgent and personal: whether life-changing treatments will arrive in time to make a difference.

A major global analysis has found that mental health conditions have surged to an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, driven largely by steep increases in anxiety and depression over the past three decades.

The findings, published in The Lancet as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, show that the number of people living with mental disorders has almost doubled since 1990, marking a 95% rise. Researchers say major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders have seen even sharper growth, increasing by 131% and 158% respectively, making them the most prevalent mental health conditions globally.

The report describes mental illnesses as widespread conditions that create long-term disability and significant human suffering. It also highlights broader consequences for economies and public services, including reduced productivity, lower workforce participation and increasing pressure on health and welfare systems.

Researchers estimate that in 2023 alone, around 620 million females and 552 million males were affected by mental health conditions. While the overall burden is rising across both sexes, the study points to notable differences in the types and prevalence of disorders.

Among women, depression and anxiety were the most commonly reported conditions, alongside higher rates of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The report links this disparity to a mix of biological, social and structural factors, including exposure to domestic violence, sexual abuse, gender inequality and reproductive health-related changes.

In contrast, neurodevelopmental and behavioural disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder and autism spectrum conditions, were more frequently diagnosed in men.

Teenagers aged 15 to 19 were identified as the group experiencing the highest mental health burden globally, raising concerns about early onset of conditions and insufficient preventive care for young people.

The study identifies several key risk factors associated with mental illness, including childhood sexual violence, bullying and intimate partner violence. These factors are strongly linked to conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. However, researchers note that such exposures have remained relatively stable over time and account for only a portion of the overall rise.

According to the authors, broader drivers are likely contributing to the increasing prevalence of mental disorders. These include genetic and biological influences, poverty, inequality, and the growing impact of global crises such as armed conflict, pandemics, natural disasters and climate-related stress.

While mental health conditions have long been a leading cause of disability worldwide, the report warns that the situation is worsening. At the same time, health systems have not expanded services at a pace matching demand.

The authors caution that the gap between rising need and limited access to care is becoming more pronounced, leaving millions without adequate treatment or support.