Medical disclaimer

Last updated 20 August 2026

GameShapeHQ publishes general educational information about exercise and physical activity. It is written for a general adult audience. It is not personalised advice, and it cannot account for anything specific about you.

Not a substitute for professional care

Nothing on this site is a diagnosis, a treatment plan, a rehabilitation programme, or a prescription. Reading it does not create any professional relationship. Always seek the advice of a doctor, physiotherapist, or other qualified health professional with any question about a medical condition or an exercise programme — and never disregard or delay professional advice because of something you read here.

Speak to someone first if any of these apply

• You have a heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or another chronic condition.
• You are pregnant or recently gave birth.
• You are recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery.
• You have joint problems, or pain that changes with activity.
• You have been inactive for a long period and are over 45.
• You take medication that affects heart rate, balance, or breathing.
• You are under 18 — train with supervision from a parent, guardian, coach or professional.

None of these is a reason not to be active. Current international guidance is clear that people with chronic conditions and disabilities benefit from regular activity. It is a reason to get guidance built around you rather than around a general audience.

Stop and seek help if you get

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• Breathlessness out of proportion to the effort
• Dizziness, fainting, or confusion
• Sharp or sudden joint pain, or pain that persists after you stop
• An irregular or racing heartbeat that does not settle

Treat any of these as a reason to seek medical attention, not as something to push through.

Food and body weight

We do not publish calorie targets, weight-loss programmes, or restrictive eating plans, and we do not frame exercise as a way to earn or offset food. Nutrition guidance that is safe for one person can be harmful to another, and it needs to come from a registered dietitian or your doctor.

If your relationship with food or exercise feels distressing or out of your control, that is worth talking to a professional about. It is common, it is treatable, and a website is not the right place to work it out alone.

Accuracy and currency

We work from published public-health guidance and date every guide. Evidence changes, and a page that was accurate when written may not stay that way. Check the date, and check the linked primary sources if a detail matters to you.

Assumption of risk

Physical activity carries inherent risk. By acting on general information from this site you accept that risk. To the fullest extent permitted by law, GameShapeHQ accepts no liability for injury or loss arising from your use of it. See the terms of service.