Why living near a green space is good for you — and other health news you should know.

Welcome to our weekly check-in with the latest health news you may have missed. The World Health Organization recently announced that one in eight people suffer from obesity, highlighting the need to prevent and manage what it calls a global epidemic. With the advent of full-body deodorant from brands like Dove, experts are now debating whether it’s safe for you (and your teens) to use. (Note: Make sure not to spray on sensitive areas.)

When it comes to exercise, there’s new research that suggests that you should take the much-discussed 10,000-step goal seriously — at least if you hope to improve your heart health. Even meeting friends weekly, from happy hour to a walk in the park, can improve your overall health, as leisure time paired with physical activity can reduce your risk of stroke. Read on to find out more about this week’s health headlines.

👟 Why you might want to increase your step count

There is a lot of debate about how many steps you need to take to improve your overall well-being. Now, a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that every extra step — up to about 10,000 steps per day — reduces the risk of death and cardiovascular disease (CVD), regardless of how much time you spend spending the rest of your day sitting. If you’re looking for a step goal, aim for at least 9,000 steps: According to the study, walking 9,000 to 10,000 steps a day reduced the risk of death by 39% and the risk of heart disease by 21%.

🌳 Green spaces could be good for your bones

Living in areas with more green spaces, such as gardens and parks, could have benefits for bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. Data from more than 391,000 people in the UK Biobank showed a consistent link between the amount of green space and bone health. Although more research is needed, the study authors suggest the link may be related to lower air pollution in green spaces.

🚴‍♀️ Enjoy physical activity to reduce your risk of stroke

If your idea of a good time is walking, cycling, exercising, or anything else that gets your body moving, new research suggests that’s good news for your risk of stroke. According to a new study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry that examined data from more than 751,000 adults, engaging in recreational physical activities is associated with a lower risk of stroke — even for people who didn’t meet the weekly activity guidelines. This includes 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity per week or 75 minutes or more of vigorous-intensity physical activity.

💄 Remove your makeup before going to the gym to get better skin

If you often go straight from the office to the gym, you might be interested in this new study from the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, which examined the effect of makeup on skin during aerobic exercise. The small study involved 43 healthy college students who applied foundation to one side of their face before training and left the other side bare. The results suggest that wearing makeup — particularly skin-covering makeup like foundation — can affect aspects of the skin including moisture retention, elasticity, pore size, and oil content both during and after exercise. The judgment? If you work up a sweat, no makeup skin is the way to go.

🥤 The fake sweet stuff could be bad for your heart

Artificially sweetened drinks like diet sodas can have negative effects on your heart, according to a new study. Research suggests that people who drink two liters or more of artificially sweetened drinks per week have a 20% higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) — an irregular and rapid heartbeat — than people who avoid these drinks entirely. Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous because irregularities can cause blood to pool in the heart and form blood clots, which can travel to the brain and cause strokes and contribute to other heart complications.