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Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd...
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Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Pediatric Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 3558

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alexandre Aparecido De Almeida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Education, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Tocantins, Campus Araguatins, Araguatins 77950-000, TO, Brazil
Interests: physical activity, physical exercise and sports practices by young people; biological maturation; child and adolescent mental health; cognition; learning; brain development; epilepsy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Matias Noll

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Postgraduate Program in Education, Goiano Federal Institute, Ceres 76300-000, Brazil
2. Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-631, Brazil
Interests: physical activity; physical exercise; ultra-processed food; child and adolescent mental health; back pain; posture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Being physically active and adopting healthy lifestyle habits can provide several physical, cognitive, and mental benefits; however, a high percentage of children and adolescents do not reach the daily physical activity recommendations, alongisde being involved in harmful life habits, thus increasing the risk of the development of health problems. This Special Issue, entitled "Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition”, of Children aims to illuminate the current knowledge in research that is relevant to the impacts of physical activity practices and lifestyle habits in children and adolescents. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short papers covering issues related to the impacts of physical activity and/or physical exercise practices, as well as lifestyle habits in the mental health, cognition, academic performance, body composition, physical growth, and biological maturation of young people. Other issues related to the impact of physical activity and lifestyle habits in children and adolescents not listed above may be significant and accepted for publication.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Alexandre Aparecido De Almeida
Dr. Matias Noll
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. Children 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 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 and exercise
  • physical activity evaluation
  • physical fitness
  • quality of life
  • children and adolescents
  • lifestyle habits
  • sport practice
  • biological maturation
  • mental health
  • cognition

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 201 KiB  
Article
Association of Physical Activity Intensity and Light/Deep Sleep in Young People from Southern Spain
by Pablo Ramírez-Espejo, José Luis Solas-Martínez, Manuel J. de la Torre-Cruz and Alberto Ruiz-Ariza
Children 2025, 12(5), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050534 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 133
Abstract
Background: Previous research has examined the relationship between physical activity (PA) and sleep quality in young people. However, studies exploring how different intensities of PA relate to light and deep sleep, using objective measurement tools, remain scarce. Therefore, the aim of the [...] Read more.
Background: Previous research has examined the relationship between physical activity (PA) and sleep quality in young people. However, studies exploring how different intensities of PA relate to light and deep sleep, using objective measurement tools, remain scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the potential associations between PA intensity and sleep stages and to determine the most effective intensity of PA for positively influencing sleep during adolescence. Methods: The sample consisted of 1072 Spanish pre-adolescents and adolescents (53% girls and 47% boys) aged 13.03 ± 1.79 years. Sleep and intensity of PA were measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 smartband. Sleep was categorized as light or deep, while PA intensity was determined by heart rate (HR) and classified as light (resting to 50% of maximum HR), moderate (50–70% of max HR), and vigorous (70–85% of max HR). Results: Analyses revealed that greater daily time spent in light-intensity PA was associated with less light sleep and more deep sleep. Additionally, vigorous-intensity PA was positively associated with increased deep sleep. No negative associations were observed between moderate-intensity PA and sleep quality. In conclusion, this study suggests that promoting prolonged light-intensity activities (e.g., walking) or short bursts of vigorous activity (e.g., sports participation) may enhance sleep quality during pre-adolescence and adolescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition)
13 pages, 221 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Physical Activity and Screen Time on Motor Creativity in Kindergarteners
by Rafat Ghanamah
Children 2025, 12(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020116 - 22 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1496
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Motor creativity and physical activity are essential to early childhood development, impacting physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. This study investigates the relationships among motor creativity, motor working memory (MSTM), screen time, and physical activity (PA) in kindergarten children, focusing on the mediating [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Motor creativity and physical activity are essential to early childhood development, impacting physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. This study investigates the relationships among motor creativity, motor working memory (MSTM), screen time, and physical activity (PA) in kindergarten children, focusing on the mediating roles of cognitive functions and screen time. Methods: Data were collected from 124 Arab Israeli kindergarten children through assessments of Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement (TCAM) for motor creativity and the Hand Movement Test for MSTM. Parents reported the children’s screen time and days engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: The results show significant positive associations between motor creativity and both MSTM and PA, underscoring the role of cognitive processes in creative motor expression. Linear regression and mediation analyses showed that MSTM significantly mediates the relationship between PA and motor creativity. Conversely, screen time negatively correlates with PA and motor creativity, serving as a significant mediator that restricts opportunities for physical and creative activities. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the bidirectional relationship between PA and motor creativity, wherein diverse physical activities stimulate creativity, and creative movements encourage active participation. The combined mediating effects of MSTM and screen time highlight the complexity of these relationships, suggesting the need for integrated interventions. The findings inform early childhood education by advocating for strategies that promote physical activity, enhance cognitive functions, and limit excessive screen time, fostering holistic development in young children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition)
10 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Low Birth Weight and Related Metabolic Risk Factors, Cardio-Respiratory Fitness and Physical Activity in Adolescents
by Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues, Cristina Padez, Daniela Rodrigues, Luís P. Mascarenhas, Nuno Borges, Cátia Maia, Liliana C. Baptista, Helder Miguel Fernandes and Neiva Leite
Children 2024, 11(12), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121523 - 16 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1250
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The associations between low birth weight (LBW) and the aggregation of metabolic risk factors (MRF) in youth remain ambiguous. Thus, this study analysed the interrelationship among MRF, LBW, and behavioural factors in adolescents. Methods: The sample of the present cross-sectional study comprised [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The associations between low birth weight (LBW) and the aggregation of metabolic risk factors (MRF) in youth remain ambiguous. Thus, this study analysed the interrelationship among MRF, LBW, and behavioural factors in adolescents. Methods: The sample of the present cross-sectional study comprised 491 youth (229 males, 262 females) aged 14–17 years. Height, weight, and BMI were assessed. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured using the PACER test. Physical activity (PA) was evaluated using a 3-day diary. A MRF risk score was calculated using the Z-scores of the five MRF criteria (HDL-C, triglycerides, BP, insulin, and blood glucose). Results: The average values for height, weight, and systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in males (p < 0.01); in contrast, females exhibited higher HDL cholesterol and insulin levels (p < 0.01). Boys revealed higher levels of PA (p < 0.01), and they achieved better CRF scores than girls (p < 0.01). BMI emerged as a significant predictor of clustered metabolic risk for both males (β = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.16–0.36) and females (β = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.14–0.30); additionally, the results indicated that more physically active girls had a notably lower metabolic risk (β = −0.01; 95% CI, −0.10–−0.01) than their male peers. Conclusions: LBW was found to be independently correlated with the aggregated MRF (β = −0.01; 95% CI, −0.01–0.00) among boys aged 14–17 years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Lifestyle Habits in Children and Adolescents: 2nd Edition)
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