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Applied Sciences
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Health Promotion Through Physical Activity and Diet
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Health Promotion Through Physical Activity and Diet

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 1735

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raul Bartolomeu

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Guest Editor
Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
Interests: physical activity; biomechanics; swimming; physiology
Dr. Márcio Carocho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
Interests: food science; food technology; new foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jorge Morais

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Interests: physical activity; performance; biomechanics; swimming; physiology; modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The promotion of health is vital in order to improve quality of life, prevent chronic diseases, and foster longevity. Among the most effective and evidence-based strategies, physical activity and diet play synergistic roles in enhancing overall health and functional capacity. This Special Issue aims to gather innovative studies that explore how exercise and/or nutritional strategies contribute to health promotion across diverse populations and life stages. It seeks to highlight both basic and applied research that provides practical implications for individuals, healthcare systems, and communities.

We particularly welcome contributions that address (i) the role of physical activity in maintaining musculoskeletal health; (ii) exercise interventions for general wellbeing and disease prevention; (iii) dietary strategies, supplementation, and novel food substrates that enhance training outcomes or mitigate health deterioration and; and (iv) interdisciplinary approaches that combine physical activity, nutrition, and public health to foster sustainable health promotion.

By gathering contributions from various fields, this Special Issue will offer an interdisciplinary platform for advancing knowledge. It is expected to attract studies that propose innovative, evidence-based strategies for fostering healthier lifestyles, contributing to both academic debate and real-world applications.

Dr. Raul Bartolomeu
Dr. Márcio Carocho
Dr. Jorge Morais
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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
  • diet
  • health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1089 KB  
Article
Differential Effects of Low and High Caffeine Doses on Bench Press Muscular Endurance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study
by Guilherme Pereira Saborosa, Luciano Bernardes Leite, Pedro Forte, Alexandra Malheiro, Pedro Afonso, Dan Holz de Arruda, Sebastião Felipe Ferreira Costa, Helton de Sá Souza and Sandro Fernandes da Silva
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041679 - 7 Feb 2026
Viewed by 409
Abstract
Background: Caffeine contributes to improvements in physical performance by enhancing muscular strength and endurance. However, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of different dosages on resistance training (RT) performance. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of different caffeine doses [...] Read more.
Background: Caffeine contributes to improvements in physical performance by enhancing muscular strength and endurance. However, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of different dosages on resistance training (RT) performance. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of different caffeine doses (i.e., 3 mg·kg−1 and 6 mg·kg−1) on the maximum number of repetitions in a muscular endurance test. Methods: The study included 11 male participants (25.7 ± 5.9 years) who completed six in-person visits. During the first visit, a 24 h dietary recall (24HDR) was administered, anthropometric measurements were assessed, and one-repetition maximum (1RM) was determined in the flat bench press (BP). The second visit (baseline; BL) included a new 24HDR, assessment of muscle thickness using portable ultrasound (pre- and post-test), and a muscular endurance test in the BP at 80% of 1RM performed until concentric failure. The four subsequent visits followed the same protocol, with the administration of caffeine or placebo capsules 60 min before testing in a randomized, double-blind manner: low-dose caffeine (3 mg·kg−1; LC), high-dose caffeine (6 mg·kg−1; HC), low-dose placebo (3 mg·kg−1; LP), and high-dose placebo (6 mg·kg−1; HP). The first three interventions were conducted with 48 h intervals, and the remaining interventions were separated by a 7-day interval. Results: The number of repetitions and total workload (TWL) increased in all conditions compared with baseline; however, no significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). LC and HP achieved the highest repetition values (LC: 12.09 ± 3.33 reps; HP: 12.27 ± 2.72 reps). Muscle thickness was greater in all conditions in the post-test assessment, showing a significant increase (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Low- or high-dose caffeine supplementation appears to moderately influence responses in a muscular endurance test, suggesting that caffeine may be a potential supplement for resistance training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Through Physical Activity and Diet)
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14 pages, 275 KB  
Article
Associations Between Perceived Physical Literacy and DXA-Measured Body Composition in Spanish Adolescents: The ENERGYCO Study
by Emilio Villa-González, Pablo Campos-Garzón, Manuel Ávila-García, Ana Ramírez-Osuna, David Rodriguez-Sanchez, José Manuel Segura-Díaz and Víctor Manuel Valle-Muñoz
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020807 - 13 Jan 2026
Viewed by 428
Abstract
Background: Physical literacy is a multidimensional construct that may be relevant for promoting active lifestyles and healthy development during adolescence. However, the association between perceived physical literacy (PPL) and body composition assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) remains underexplored. Objective: To examine the [...] Read more.
Background: Physical literacy is a multidimensional construct that may be relevant for promoting active lifestyles and healthy development during adolescence. However, the association between perceived physical literacy (PPL) and body composition assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) remains underexplored. Objective: To examine the association between PPL and DXA-derived body composition parameters in Spanish adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 56 adolescents (13.2 ± 1.27 years, 28.6% girls). PPL was assessed using the validated Spanish version of the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (S-PPLI). Body composition was measured by DXA. Associations between PPL and body composition outcomes were examined using general linear models, adjusting for sex, age, and device-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time. Results: Higher PPL was significantly associated with greater lean body mass (β = 0.81; p = 0.02), lean mass index (β = 0.22; p = 0.01), and fat-free mass (β = 0.85; p = 0.01), as well as with higher body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.24; p = 0.03). Conclusions: Higher PPL is associated with more favorable lean-related body composition outcomes in Spanish adolescents, whereas no associations were found with adiposity or bone parameters. These findings highlight PPL as a relevant correlation of lean body composition during adolescence. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn, and future longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Through Physical Activity and Diet)

Other

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16 pages, 1947 KB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-Based Active Exercise Interventions for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Javier Bravo-Aparicio, Iria Trillo-Charlín, Javier Aceituno-Gómez, Hector Beltrán-Alacreu and Rubén Arroyo-Fernández
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041687 - 8 Feb 2026
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, reduced quality of life, and impaired physical function. Given that physical activity is a primary treatment for musculoskeletal health and overall well-being, VR-based active exercise may offer an innovative way [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, reduced quality of life, and impaired physical function. Given that physical activity is a primary treatment for musculoskeletal health and overall well-being, VR-based active exercise may offer an innovative way to engage individuals with fibromyalgia in therapeutic movement. Methods: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials including adult patients with fibromyalgia undergoing active VR-based exercise interventions were included. Databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and PEDro from inception up to 18 July 2025. Primary outcomes were pain intensity, fatigue, and symptom severity. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, kinesiophobia, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and balance. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane’s Risk of Bias 2 tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (203 participants) were included. Active VR interventions significantly reduced pain (SMD = −0.51), fatigue (SMD = −0.53), and symptom severity (MD = −8.41). Moderate effects were found for depression (SMD = −0.51) and anxiety (SMD = −0.41). Non-significant improvements were also observed in aerobic capacity (SMD = 0.28), and muscle strength (SMD = 0.33), while balance slightly favored control group (SMD = −0.19). The overall certainty of evidence for main outcomes was rated low. Subgroup analyses showed VR was superior to both no intervention and other isolated therapies. Conclusions: Active virtual reality-based exercise interventions appear effective for improving physical and psychological outcomes in fibromyalgia, although findings should be interpreted cautiously due to low certainty of evidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Through Physical Activity and Diet)
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