--- title: This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits description: This week's health news covered gluten sensitivity, superbugs, barre class and exercise myths. canonical: https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-05-18T14:00:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:58:51.034Z article:section: Health og:title: This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits og:description: Here are the health stories you need to know this week. og:url: https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5cfaf83db4c312c/69887b4b8e06010b1a4645c2/pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness-motto-stock og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits twitter:description: Here are the health stories you need to know this week. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5cfaf83db4c312c/69887b4b8e06010b1a4645c2/pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin May 18, 2017 2:00 PM UTC  Peechaya Burroughs for TIME by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin May 18, 2017 2:00 PM UTC This week brought encouraging news about exercise: It’s a real [anti-ager](http://time.com/4776345/exercise-aging-telomeres/), you [don’t have to do it on an empty stomach](http://time.com/4779651/exercise-myths-heart-rate/) and you can get a whole lot out of tiny movements, particularly in [barre class](http://time.com/4776282/barre-class-fitness/). Here’s what else caught our attention in health news this week. (Sign up for the [TIME Health newsletter](http://time.com/newsletter-health) for more.) ## [Exercise makes you younger at the cellular level](http://time.com/4776345/exercise-aging-telomeres/)  Molly Cranna for TIME In a new study, people who got the most physical activity had markers of aging that appeared nine years younger than those who were sedentary. ## [You asked: Is gluten sensitivity real?](http://time.com/4781442/non-celiac-gluten-sensitivity/) Experts say that non-celiac gluten sensitivity—which is distinct from celiac disease—is legitimate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to follow a gluten-free diet. ## [Getting an abortion with telemedicine is safe, study says](http://time.com/4779957/telemedicine-abortion-safe/) A telemedicine abortion offers a cheaper, safe option for women who live in places with abortion restrictions, according to new research. ## [Why barre class is so good for your body](http://time.com/4776282/barre-class-fitness/)  Molly Cranna for TIME This ballet-inspired workout can improve balance, flexibility, core strength and muscle endurance. But it may not burn as many calories as you think. ## [Zinc lozenges may help colds go away 3 times faster](http://time.com/4779655/zinc-lozenges-cold/) You’ll need high doses to notice a benefit, and not every brand is effective, researchers say. Here’s what to look for in a zinc lozenge. ## [9 common myths about exercise](http://time.com/4779651/exercise-myths-heart-rate/)  Molly Cranna for TIME Do you really have to stretch before a workout? Is it better to exercise on an empty stomach? The authors of the new book _Fitter_ _Faster_ give the bottom line on the latest exercise science by busting 9 big fitness myths. ## [Scientists find rare superbug in Houston](http://time.com/4780332/bacteria-superbug-houston/) Infections caused by an uncommon superbug—one resistant to several kinds of antibiotics—are increasingly showing up in a Houston hospital system. ## [Teen drinking reaches lowest point in 25 years, CDC says](http://time.com/4776249/teen-drinking-lowest-point-25-years-cdc/) Underage drinking among teens has reached a new low, according to a new government report. Binge drinking, however, is still common. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/"},"headline":"This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits","datePublished":"2017-05-18T14:00:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:58:51.034Z","description":"This week's health news covered gluten sensitivity, superbugs, barre class and exercise myths.","url":"https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/","keywords":["this week in health","Exercise","Superbug"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5cfaf83db4c312c/69887b4b8e06010b1a4645c2/pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5cfaf83db4c312c/69887b4b8e06010b1a4645c2/pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"pink-weights-body-image-health-fitness-motto-stock","caption":"pink weights body image health fitness motto stock","creditText":"Peechaya Burroughs for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/this-week-in-health/","name":"this week in health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4782960/exercise-myths-barre-class/","name":"This Week in Health: Exercise Myths and Barre Class Benefits"}}]}] ```