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Special Issue "Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles"

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2023 | Viewed by 9665

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stefania Paduano

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Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: physical and sedentary activities; children lifestyles; childhood overweight/obesity; health promotion; telemedicine; Legionella; oppurtunistic pathogens; healthcare associated infections; waterborne infections; prevention and control; epidemiology of infectious diseases

Dr. Laura Dallolio

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Guest Editor

Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Interests: health promotion; epidemiology; surveillance; public health; physical activity; adapted physical activity; active breaks; healthcare associated infections
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Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity, defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure, provides significant health benefits for both the body and mind, improving overall well-being. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive, also aimed at improving or maintaining physical fitness. Physical activity contributes to preventing and managing non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes, and improving all-cause mortality. In youth, it ensures healthy growth and development, also enhancing thinking, learning, and judgement skills. Both moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity improve health. However, new evidence demonstrates the importance of limiting sedentary behaviour and replacing it with increased physical activity at all levels, including light-intensity physical activity. Despite this evidence, prevalence estimates are consistent in finding insufficient levels of physical activity globally, and at all ages. Living in an obesogenic environment promotes high caloric consumption, such as the increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and sweet snacks, as well as poor physical activity and the excessive use of screens. Aside from eating habits, total screen time, e.g., television or PC time, is also related to overweight and obesity. Several studies have shown that excessive screen time not only negatively affects psychological, behavioural and health factors, but also affects dietary habits, leading mostly to choosing food with a low nutritional value, and a lower consumption of fibre and fruit. Moreover, watching TV advertisements can favour increased food intake. It is fundamental that children and adults achieve a good balance between calorie intake and energy expenditure, adopt an appropriate diet and physical activity routine, and reduce total sedentary time. This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the relationship between physical activity, exercise, dietary habits and health outcomes. We are also seeking studies that investigate new approaches or innovative strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles among both children and adults. This Special Issue is open to original research and review articles, short reports, brief commentaries, case reports, and meta-analyses.

Dr. Stefania Paduano
Dr. Laura Dallolio
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

physical activity
sport
sedentary behaviours
health promotion
physical education
dietary habits
nutrition
screen time
exercise
obesity and overweight

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Healthy Weight Information on Short-Form Video Applications to Acquire Healthy Weight-Control Behaviors: A Serial Mediation Model

Donghwa Chung

and

Yanfang Meng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4975; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064975 - 11 Mar 2023

Viewed by 956

Abstract

This study explored the effects of Chinese college students’ (20–34 years old) exposure to healthy weight information on short-form video applications on their intention to acquire healthy weight-control behaviors (reducing high-fat diet intake, accessing physical activity to control body weight, etc.). Specifically, this study investigated the direct and mediated effect on such a relationship via healthy weight awareness, the first-person effect, and perceived herd. The data were collected using a web-based survey and thoroughly tested questionnaire with a sample of 380 Chinese college students. Hierarchical regression, parallel mediation, and serial mediation analysis were applied to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that healthy weight awareness, first-person effect, and perceived herd all played mediator roles that induced the relationship between Chinese college students’ exposure to healthy weight information and their intention to acquire healthy weight-control behaviors. In addition, healthy weight awareness and the first-person effect sequentially mediated this relationship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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Open AccessArticle

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Family Factors Associated with Lifestyle Habits in a Sample of Italian Primary School Children: The I-MOVE Project

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4240; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054240 - 27 Feb 2023

Viewed by 974

Abstract

The acquisition of healthy dietary and exercise habits during childhood is essential for maintaining these behaviors during adulthood. In early childhood, parents have a profound influence on a child’s lifestyle pursuits, serving as both role models and decision-makers. The present study examines family factors as potential contributors to healthy lifestyle habits and their child’s overall diet quality among a sample of primary school children. A secondary aim is to evaluate several aspects of diet quality using the Mediterranean adaptation of the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I). This cross-sectional study involved 106 children enrolled in a primary school located in Imola, Italy. Data were collected from October to December 2019 using an interactive tool used to assess parent characteristics, children’s lifestyle, food frequency (ZOOM-8 questionnaire), and actigraph accelerometers to capture children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (expressed by KIDMED Index) was positively associated with fathers’ educational level, parental sport participation, and the parent’s overall nutritional knowledge. Higher mothers’ educational level was inversely associated with children’s leisure screen time. Parents’ nutritional knowledge was positively related to children’s average daily minutes of organized sport activities. The better score for DQI-I was for consumption adequacy, followed by variety and moderation. The lowest score was for overall balance. The present study reinforces the importance of family factors in young children’s lifestyle choices, particularly their dietary, leisure time, and exercise habits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of a Single Prolonged Aerobic Exercise Session on Executive Function Task Performance in Physically Active Adults (21–70 Years of Age)

Brandon A. Yates

Lawrence E. Armstrong

Elaine C. Lee

Frederick W. Unverzagt

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2802; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042802 - 04 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1128

Abstract

We sought to examine the effectiveness of an acute prolonged exercise session on post-exercise executive function in physically active adults and to assess if age or pre-exercise cognitive performance was predictive of the magnitude of change in executive task performance. Self-registered cyclists were recruited prior to participating in a 161-km mass-participation cycling event. Cyclists were excluded if they had not previously participated in a similar endurance event, were young (<18 y), or were cognitively impaired (Mini Cog^TM < 3 units). Immediately after completing the exercise session, the time taken to complete Trail Making Test Part A and Part B (TMT A + B) was assessed. A faster time to complete the TMT A + B was observed after exercise (+8.5%; p = 0.0003; n = 62; age range = 21–70 y). The magnitude of change in TMT A + B performance (pre vs. post) was influenced by pre-exercise TMT A + B performance (r² = 0.23, p < 0.0001), not age (r² =0.002; p = 0.75). Prolonged exercise had a small-to-moderate effect on post-exercise compared to pre-exercise executive function task performance (Cohen’s d = 0.38–0.49). These results support the effectiveness of a single prolonged exercise bout to augment executive function in physically active adults, irrespective of age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effects of Theacrine as a Pre-Workout Supplement

Henrique Santa Capita Cerqueira

Hugo Tourinho Filho

Marcos Corrêa Junior

and

Carlos Eduardo Martinelli Junior

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114037 - 28 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1380

Abstract

The search to increase physical performance is inherent to physical activity practitioners, and nutrition features are among the alternatives to seeking such an increase. The literature from the area has shown that different substances can promote beneficial effects over physical performance. One substance that has come into the spotlight is theacrine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, which aims to increase physical performance. However, the studies on this supplement are scarce. Therefore, this study is a randomized, controlled trial that aimed to verify the effects of theacrine supplementation over physical performance in young male athletes, by applying a battery of physical tests. Twenty-two male amateur flag-football athletes were recruited. Subjects were divided into two groups and assessed at two moments, which were 72 h apart. The first assessment served as a basal measurement. In the second, the subjects ingested the supplement or a placebo 60 min before the following tests: sextuple jump, agility T test, 30 m sprint, 40 s run test (Matsudo test), and 12 min run test (Cooper test). There was no difference between the groups in any of the tests. Therefore, the findings of this study do not support the use of theacrine to increase physical performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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Open AccessArticle

How Do Elite Female Athletes Cope with Symptoms of Their Premenstrual Period? A Study on Rugby Union and Football Players’ Perceived Physical Ability and Well-Being

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811168 - 06 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1450

Abstract

Women’s participation in sports has recently grown worldwide, including in sports typically associated with men (e.g., rugby and football). Similarly, literature on female athletes has increased, but how they cope with premenstrual (PM) physical and affective symptoms remains a poorly studied topic. Our study aimed to explain which coping strategies elite female rugby and football players use during their PM period to maintain perceived physical ability (PPA) and well-being. A mediation model analysis considering coping strategies (i.e., avoiding harm, awareness and acceptance, adjusting energy, self-care, and communicating) as independent variables, PPA and well-being as dependent variables, and PM physical and affective symptoms and PM cognitive resources as mediators was run on the data collected via an anonymous online survey. A dysfunctional impact of avoiding harm (indirect) and adjusting energy (both direct and indirect) and a functional indirect influence of awareness and acceptance, self-care, and communicating as coping strategies were found on PPA and well-being during the PM period. As predicted, PM physical and affective symptoms as mediators reduced PPA and well-being, while PM cognitive resources enhanced them. These results may inform practitioners on how to support elite female athletes’ PPA and well-being by knowing and reinforcing the most functional PM coping strategies for them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Sports Performance and Performance-Related Features in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Mirella Di Dio

Patrizia Calella

Concetta Paola Pelullo

and

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2226; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032226 - 26 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1595

Abstract

This review aims to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on performance and performance-related conditions in athletes by evaluating randomized controlled studies from the MEDLINE (Pubmed), Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus (EBSCO) databases. From a total of 2304 relevant articles, 13 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seven studies concern endurance athletes, one to rugby players, three refer to non-specified athletes, one to badminton players, and one involves baseball players. The evidence suggests that the integration of athletes’ diets with some bacterial strains and also the consumption of multi-strain compounds may lead to an improvement in performance and can positively affect performance-related aspects such as fatigue, muscle pain, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness. However, the type of supplementation and sport is very variable among the studies examined. Therefore, to obtain more solid evidence, further controlled and comparable studies are needed to expand the research regarding the possible repercussions of probiotics use on athletes’ performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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Open AccessReview

Effects of Probiotics Supplementation on Risk and Severity of Infections in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Mirella Di Dio

Patrizia Calella

Giuseppe Cerullo

Concetta Paola Pelullo

Valeria Di Onofrio

Francesca Gallè

and

Giorgio Liguori

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811534 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1469

Abstract

The aim of this review was to appraise the literature on the effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) risk and prognosis in athletes. The search was conducted using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed); Web of Science; Scopus; and SPORTDiscus (EBSCO). According to the PRISMA guidelines, randomized controlled studies performed on healthy athletes with a note dose of probiotics supplementation were considered. From the 2304 articles found, after eliminating reviews and studies on animals and unhealthy subjects and after screening of titles and abstracts, 403 studies were considered eligible. From these, in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 studies were selected, ten of which concerned endurance athletes. The majority of the studies reported beneficial effects of probiotics in reducing the risk of developing the examined infections or the severity of related symptoms. However, due to the differences in formulations used and populations analyzed in the available studies, further research is needed in this field to achieve stronger and more specific evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Exercise and Dietary Habits: Focus on Healthy Lifestyles)

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