Nature-Based Integrative Health: Physical Activity, Nutrition and Environmental Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

Nature-based interventions represent a valuable tool for encouraging people to engage with the natural environment, thereby reaping a myriad of physical, mental, and social health benefits. While many of these benefits are well documented in the literature, further research is necessary for a deeper understanding of the relationship between this exposure, physical activity, and nature-based nutrition patterns in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, it is crucial to examine the long-term effectiveness and safety of these interventions, recognizing the importance of natural spaces (particularly blue spaces, where research is more limited) and the development of specific studies involving vulnerable groups. This research is essential for comprehensively assessing the costs and benefits of investing in various approaches, aiming to identify coordinated strategies and support more effective initiatives.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute an article to this Special Issue, considering your extensive experience and expertise in this area. We believe that your contribution could significantly enrich the discussion and understanding of this important topic.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the results of implementing strategies/programs to engage people in nature-based experiences, allowing for the sustainable protection, management, or restoration of natural or modified ecosystems, and promoting challenging behavioral changes in the domains of physical activity and nutrition, thereby promoting health and well-being in communities.

Research fields of interest include: health assessment, disease prevention, treatment and comprehensive strategies, morbidity and mortality, long-term outcomes, mental health, prevention, and sport.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Helena Moreira
Dr. Ronaldo E. C. D. Gabriel
Dr. Mário Gabriel Santiago dos Santos
Dr. Carla Gonçalves
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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.

• human–nature connection
• nature-based physical activity
• integrative nutrition
• health and wellbeing