Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Children and Adolescents

Dear Colleagues,

Over time, the concept of health has evolved significantly, influenced by diverse perspectives and approaches, making it difficult to establish a consistent framework of understanding. Prior to the 1940s, health was predominantly viewed as the mere absence of physical illness, focusing solely on physical well-being. However, in 1948, the WHO redefined health as a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This marked a pivotal transition towards a more holistic and multidimensional perspective on health.

In recent decades, the WHO’s multidimensional view has gained widespread acceptance in the literature, with milestones such as the Ottawa Charter (1986) further emphasizing this approach. Health is now regarded as a dynamic concept, characterized by the ability to adapt to diverse circumstances. This perspective highlights that health is not static, but evolves over time, necessitating a nuanced understanding of its complexity and the specific definitions of its physical, mental, and social dimensions.

Healthy lifestyles represent ways of living that minimize the risk of illness or premature death. Although the literature lacks a unified definition of which habits constitute such a lifestyle, physical activity and nutrition are consistently emphasized as essential components, demonstrating the importance of addressing this subject. These habits are established during childhood, shaped through learning and repetition, and often become automatic over time. Given that this formative phase coincides with children’s development, both family and education play crucial roles in fostering and sustaining these habits.

Children spend a significant portion of their day at school, and studies suggest that this time can be effectively used to teach and cultivate healthy lifestyles, particularly through the implementation of school-based programs. Such programs should adopt a holistic approach, integrating all educational stakeholders—school administrators, teachers, and families—to promote and sustain healthy behaviors.

Aim and Scope of the Special Issue:

This Special Issue aims to advance the discourse on health and Healthy Lifestyles by exploring cutting-edge research in the field. It seeks to provide a platform for scholars to contribute innovative insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of health, emphasizing the importance of early interventions and interdisciplinary approaches.

Cutting-Edge Research:

We welcome the submission of groundbreaking studies that examine new perspectives on health promotion, evaluate the effectiveness of school-based and community-driven interventions, and analyze the interplay between physical, mental, and social dimensions of health. Contributions that explore the integration of technological innovations in fostering healthy lifestyles or examine cultural and contextual factors shaping healthy behaviors are particularly encouraged.

What Kind of Papers We Are Soliciting:

We are seeking original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that provide empirical evidence or theoretical advancements related to health and healthy lifestyles. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the role of education and family in promoting healthy habits, the impact of physical activity and nutrition on long-term well-being, and policy-driven strategies to enhance health outcomes. Submissions addressing interdisciplinary approaches or offering global and cross-cultural perspectives are also particularly welcome.

Dr. Iker Saez
Dr. Aitor Coca
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.

• health promotion
• healthy lifestyles
• physical activity and nutrition
• school-based interventions
• holistic health approaches