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Sports
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Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity
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Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 9254

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wenfei Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physical Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Interests: physical activity assessments; health promotion; lifestyle interventions; motor control and learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yuliang Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physical Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Interests: exercise science and health promotion; biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity is associated with improved physical function, lower prevalence of several chronic diseases, and reduced all-cause premature mortality. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (second edition) recommends adults should perform at least 150 to 300 min a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 min to 150 min a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination. The guidelines also emphasize the importance of avoiding prolonged sitting, and provide some new information and guidance on the benefits and practices of moving more and sitting less.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to present evidence of how healthy lifestyles, especially those involving physical activity, maintain sustainable physical and mental well-being. The focus of the Special Issue is on improving health and create a better future by addressing the challenges people face in order to stay fit, improve their health and manage chronic disease, with a particular emphasis on the role of physical activity in varied forms. A better understanding of the relationship between physical activity and health and the effect of innovative intervention on health outcomes would significantly add to our knowledge of how to best translate scientific health research and discovery into practice. This Special Issue will supplement the existing literature by presenting the latest original and summative research from world-leading experts in their respective fields of endeavor from across the globe.

All types of research are welcome. The latest date for submissions is 30 November 2023, although earlier submissions are encouraged. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Sustainability or Joint Special Issue in Healthcare.

Dr. Wenfei Zhu
Dr. Yuliang Sun
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. Sports 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 1800 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
  • health promotion
  • chronic diseases
  • exercise intervention

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3054 KiB  
Article
Exercise Combined with a Low-Calorie Diet Improves Body Composition, Attenuates Muscle Mass Loss, and Regulates Appetite in Adult Women with High Body Fat Percentage but Normal BMI
by Xinyue Wu, Chengnan Zhang, Zhuoying Liang, Yiheng Liang, Yuxuan Li and Junqiang Qiu
Sports 2024, 12(4), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12040091 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 863
Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a 500 kcal reduction in daily energy intake alone and in combination with 90 min of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week on body weight, body composition, and appetite sensations in young women with [...] Read more.
Background: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a 500 kcal reduction in daily energy intake alone and in combination with 90 min of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week on body weight, body composition, and appetite sensations in young women with normal BMI and abnormal body fat percentage. Methods: sixty-six young women with normal BMI and abnormal body fat percentage (21.33 ± 1.20 kg/m2 and 34.32 ± 2.94%) were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) caloric restriction (CR; n = 22), (2) caloric restriction with exercise (CR–EX; n = 22), and (3) control (C; n = 22). Data on anthropometry, blood samples, and subjective appetite sensations pre- and post-intervention were collected. Results: After 4 weeks of intervention, CR and CR–EX groups both reduced body weight, fat percentage, and waist and hip circumferences compared to the C group (p < 0.05). Muscle mass of the CR group was significantly lower than that of the C group (−1.21 ± 0.86 kg vs. −0.27 ± 0.82 kg, p < 0.05), and no significant difference between CR–EX and C groups was observed. For appetite sensations, the subjects of the CR group showed significant increases in change of scores in desire to eat and prospective consumption than that of the C group (p < 0.05), while no significant difference between CR–EX and C groups was observed. Conclusion: A 500 kcal reduction in daily energy intake alone and in combination with 90 min of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise per week could both reduce weight and improve body composition in young adult women with normal BMI and abnormal body fat percentage. More importantly, calorie restriction combined with exercise intervention was superior to calorie restriction alone in improving muscle mass loss and regulating appetite sensations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
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28 pages, 1442 KiB  
Article
The Impact of an Outdoor Motor–Cognitive Exercise Programme on the Health Outcomes of Older Adults in Community Settings: A Pilot and Feasibility Study
by Katharina Zwingmann, Torsten Schlesinger and Katrin Müller
Sports 2024, 12(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12020049 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Physical and cognitive exercises can prevent or at least mitigate the symptoms of certain diseases and help older adults perform a range of daily functions. Yet, most seniors do not meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended guidelines for physical activity. The objective of [...] Read more.
Physical and cognitive exercises can prevent or at least mitigate the symptoms of certain diseases and help older adults perform a range of daily functions. Yet, most seniors do not meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended guidelines for physical activity. The objective of this study is to promote and maintain the physical and cognitive capacity of older adults by implementing a feasible and effective low-threshold, age-appropriate, motor–cognitive training outdoors. In the German city of Chemnitz, citizens aged 60 years and older participated in a quasi-randomised intervention trial. Exercises to train coordination, strength, endurance, and cognition were integrated into a 12-week outdoor motor–cognitive exercise programme. Both the physical (e.g., 6MWT) and cognitive skills (e.g., TMT B) of the intervention group (n = 41) and control group (no intervention, n = 58) were measured before (T1) and after (T2) completion of the exercise programme. Some of the participants’ physical and all their cognitive measures improved. Neurocognitive performance (DSST) showed a significant time × group interaction effect (F(1,95) = 6.943, p = 0.010, ηp2 = 0.068). Sex and age were found to be influencing factors. We consider our exercise programme to be successfully implemented, well received by the participants, and feasible and useful to promote the continued exercise of daily functions as part of healthy aging in community-dwelling older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
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9 pages, 211 KiB  
Article
The Attitudes of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases towards Online Exercise with the Mobile Monitoring of Their Health-Related Vital Signs
by Apostolia Ntovoli, Maria Anifanti, Georgia Koukouvou, Alexandros Mitropoulos, Evangelia Kouidi and Kostas Alexandris
Sports 2024, 12(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12020047 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1089
Abstract
The health care cost of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the EU is estimated to be today over 282 billion euros. It is well documented today that exercise training is one of the main strategies for secondary disease prevention and the follow-up integration of [...] Read more.
The health care cost of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the EU is estimated to be today over 282 billion euros. It is well documented today that exercise training is one of the main strategies for secondary disease prevention and the follow-up integration of these patients. This study aimed to examine patients’ attitudes towards online exercise with mobile monitoring of their vital signs. More specifically, the research objectives were as follows: (a) to examine patients’ attitudes and expectations of online exercise, (b) cluster patients in high- and low-attitude groups and examine their intention to participate in online exercise, and (c) to examine age and gender differences in terms of their intention to exercise online. The final goal of this project was to develop a real application that could be of use to patients and professionals. Data were collected from fifty patients in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The results revealed that most patients were positive about exercising online if the programs were perceived as fun and, especially, safe. The use of an online monitoring application with the distant supervision of health professionals could both motivate them and strengthen their feeling of safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
10 pages, 1048 KiB  
Article
Interest and Perseverance Are Not Enough to Be Physically Active: The Importance of Self-Efficacy toward Healthy Eating and Healthy Weight to Move More in Adolescents
by María Marentes-Castillo, Isabel Castillo, Inés Tomás and Octavio Álvarez
Sports 2024, 12(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12020041 - 29 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1974
Abstract
(1) Background: Insufficient physical activity in adolescents remains an important issue for health promotion. Given the current relevance of understanding the adoption and maintenance of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), the aim of this study was to analyze, in a sample of [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Insufficient physical activity in adolescents remains an important issue for health promotion. Given the current relevance of understanding the adoption and maintenance of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), the aim of this study was to analyze, in a sample of adolescents, the role of grit personality as an antecedent of healthy eating and healthy weight (HEW) self-efficacy and its implications for the practice of MVPA. (2) Methods: Participants were 987 adolescents (597 girls, 390 boys) aged between 15 and 19 years from Mexico and Spain. The Spanish versions of the grit personality scale, the healthy eating and weight self-efficacy scale and the global physical activity questionnaire were used to measure the variables of interest. (3) Results: Mediated regression analysis showed that grit personality was not directly related to MVPA practice. However, the results indicate the significant relationship between grit personality and HEW self-efficacy, as well as the positive and significant relationship of this self-efficacy on MVPA practice. HEW self-efficacy totally mediated the relationship between grit personality and MVPA in both boys and girls. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that having a grit personality (i.e., having interest and perseverance) is not enough for adolescents to be physically active, but that perceiving oneself as effective in having a healthy diet and healthy weight may be the key for adolescents to move more. At the intervention level, we suggest targeting an enhancement of young people’s competence to eat healthily and regulate their weight as a strategy to enhance the performance of more MVPA, with a possible transfer between healthy behaviors (spill over). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
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32 pages, 1796 KiB  
Article
Home-Based Intelligent Exercise System for Seniors’ Healthcare: The Example of Golf Croquet
by Yu-Li Zhou, Chia-Li Chen, Shih-Jui Chang and Bo-Sheng Wu
Sports 2023, 11(11), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11110207 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1907
Abstract
In 2020, the world experienced the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, and seniors and chronic disease patients generally reduced their exercise and social activities to avoid increasing the risk of infection, which could lead to increased loneliness and even many diseases. Combining golf [...] Read more.
In 2020, the world experienced the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, and seniors and chronic disease patients generally reduced their exercise and social activities to avoid increasing the risk of infection, which could lead to increased loneliness and even many diseases. Combining golf croquet games with a mobile application (App) and AIoT companion robots, this research constructs a home-based intelligent exercise system, uses the technology acceptance model (TAM), deduces users’ intention to use this system based on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and adds the needs of love and belonging, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualization in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory (HNT) to conduct an analysis of system needs. This study collected empirical data, totaling 320 participants including seniors and their caregivers, from elderly care centers in northern Taiwan using a cross-sectional survey and purposive sampling. Based on regression and variance analysis, the results show that participants have a high level of acceptance of this system, believing that it is easy to learn and operate and can increase interaction with others, improve self-confirmation, satisfy the thirst for knowledge, increase the feeling of happiness, and fulfill self-actualization needs. In the future, by collecting and recording the process of seniors using the App, so as to find out their health problems as soon as possible, expand their daily life through this exercise, and achieve the goal of happy living and better healthcare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
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12 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
The Role of Motivation and Physical Self-Concept in Accomplishing Physical Activity in Primary School Children
by Slobodan Pavlović, Vladan Pelemiš, Jovan Marković, Marko Dimitrijević, Marko Badrić, Sabolč Halaši, Ivko Nikolić and Nebojša Čokorilo
Sports 2023, 11(9), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090173 - 05 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1406
Abstract
Background: The goal of this research is to identify correlations of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity among students of younger school age, as well as the level of prediction of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity of students in physical [...] Read more.
Background: The goal of this research is to identify correlations of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity among students of younger school age, as well as the level of prediction of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity of students in physical education classes. Methods: The sample of respondents consisted of 411 students of the third and fourth grades from the territory of the Zlatibor district. A modified Self-Regulation Questionnaire was used to assess students’ motivational orientations, while appropriate subscales of the Self-perception Profile for Children measuring instrument were used to assess physical self-concept. Physical activity is shown as volume and intensive physical activity (vigorous physical activity (VPA)), measured with a Suunto memory belt pedometer and heart-rate monitor. Results: Boys’ motivational predictor variables accounted for 14% (volume) and 28% (VPA) of their physical activity in class, with intrinsic motivation, introjective regulation (just for the level of physical activity), and identified regulation as the most important determinants of physical activity. For girls, the identified regulation variable (from the system of motivational predictor variables) was shown to be the primary predictor variable on both criterion variables (R2 = 0.34 and 0.36). Conclusion: The teaching of physical education for students of younger school age should be conceived by creating a motivational climate, in order to encourage physical activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Sustainability of Promoting Physical Activity)
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