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Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and...
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Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health and Preventive Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 12 October 2026 | Viewed by 12946

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Júlio Costa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Portugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, FPF, 1495-433 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
Interests: exercise physiology; injury prevention; strength and conditioning; monitoring of training and match load; health outcomes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit a manuscript to Healthcare for the Special Issue titled “Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents”. This Special Issue aims to explore the interplay of physical activity, sleep, and nutrition in shaping the health and developmental outcomes of children and adolescents. This Special Issue recognizes that these three pillars form the foundation of physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being and focuses on evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies that optimize these factors for young populations.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies that provide a better understanding of how physical activity, sleep, and nutrition influence health and development. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Physical activity for growth and development;
  2. The role of sleep in cognitive and physical health;
  3. The impact of nutrition on health outcomes;
  4. Interventions addressing the combined influence of these factors;
  5. Socioeconomic and cultural influences on health behaviors.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Júlio Costa
Guest Editor

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. Healthcare 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 2700 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
  • sleep hygiene
  • nutrition and diet
  • child development
  • adolescent health
  • holistic interventions
  • health behavior

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 704 KB  
Article
The OWL Screening Tool—A Protocol for Holistic Pediatric Lifestyle Assessment
by Alina Auffermann and Wolfgang Auffermann
Healthcare 2025, 13(21), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212731 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 684
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The identification of health risk factors in children should rely not only on body mass index but also on modifiable lifestyle behaviors. Early screening for physical inactivity, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress is crucial for effective preventive healthcare. The [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The identification of health risk factors in children should rely not only on body mass index but also on modifiable lifestyle behaviors. Early screening for physical inactivity, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress is crucial for effective preventive healthcare. The aim of this project was to develop the OWL screening tool, a protocol for the holistic assessment of key lifestyle risk factors in children aged 6–12. Methods/Rationale: The OWL tool was developed by integrating evidence-based recommendations from major health societies (WHO, EFSA, the National Sleep Foundation, and the Pediatric Endocrine Society), incorporating psychological principles, and adapting validated components from existing pediatric screening instruments. Its design prioritizes flexibility for use across various age groups and settings. The development process resulted in the 20-item OWL questionnaire, structured into four lifestyle domains: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management. Each item is a closed-ended question requiring a dichotomous (yes/no) response. One point is awarded for each health-promoting behavior endorsed, yielding a total possible score of 20. The tool is suitable for self-report by older children, parent-report for younger children, or clinician-administered review. Conclusions: By integrating sleep and stress management with traditional lifestyle factors, the OWL screening tool offers a highly relevant approach to pediatric preventive care. The findings presented here should be interpreted as a proof-of-concept, and the tool is not yet ready for clinical implementation without further rigorous evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents)
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18 pages, 2468 KB  
Article
Effects of Active Gamification on Sleep and Anxiety Reduction in Spanish Primary School Children
by María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile, Alberto Ruiz-Ariza, Alba Rusillo-Magdaleno and Agustín Aibar-Almazán
Healthcare 2025, 13(6), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060623 - 13 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1842
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Active gamification, which incorporates game elements with physical interaction, is presented as an innovative strategy to address anxiety problems and sleep quality in children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an active gamification program on the aforementioned variables in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Active gamification, which incorporates game elements with physical interaction, is presented as an innovative strategy to address anxiety problems and sleep quality in children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an active gamification program on the aforementioned variables in children in primary education. Methods: This study utilized a randomized, controlled trial with 120 children between 8 and 11 years of age, divided into an experimental group, which participated in a 12-week gamified program, and a control group, which continued with traditional physical education classes. Results: The main findings indicate that the intervention had a significant impact on reducing anxiety, with improvements in most of the subscales evaluated except for the obsessive-compulsive disorder subscale. Significant improvements were also found in sleep quality, with reductions in bedtime resistance, nighttime awakenings, parasomnias, and sleep-disordered breathing, although no significant changes were noted in sleep-onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: The gamification intervention in physical exercise showed positive effects in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in primary school children, highlighting its potential as an intervention strategy in primary education classrooms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents)
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16 pages, 812 KB  
Article
Comparing the Effects of Adequate and Insufficient Sleep on the Mental Health, Behavioral Outcomes, and Daily Lives of South Korean Adolescents
by Sang Mi Kim, Hye Seon Park, Yeong Mi Jeong and Catherine Park
Healthcare 2025, 13(5), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050471 - 21 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7667
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adequate sleep is critical for adolescents’ physical and mental health. However, academic demands and lifestyle habits lead to insufficient sleep among many adolescents. This study examined the relationship between sleep patterns and general characteristics, health behaviors, and mental health among South Korean [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adequate sleep is critical for adolescents’ physical and mental health. However, academic demands and lifestyle habits lead to insufficient sleep among many adolescents. This study examined the relationship between sleep patterns and general characteristics, health behaviors, and mental health among South Korean adolescents. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, involving 21,283 students aged between 13 and 18 years. Self-reported sleep duration was categorized as adequate (8–10 h) or insufficient (less than 8 h on both weekdays and weekends), and 20 independent variables across demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, health-related behavioral, and psychological factors were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of insufficient sleep. Results: Insufficient sleep was more prevalent among female students (odds ratio [OR]: 2.064) and older students (OR: 16.588 for Grade 12 vs. Grade 7) and was associated with higher stress levels (OR: 4.338 for almost always vs. never), suicidal ideation (OR: 1.826), and unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol consumption (OR: 2.009), smoking (OR: 1.998), and smartphone overdependence (OR: 2.313 for severe vs. normal). In contrast, adolescents with adequate sleep reported greater happiness (OR: 4.167 for very much vs. not at all) and better academic performance (OR: 1.377 for very high vs. very low). Conclusions: The findings show that insufficient sleep significantly affects adolescent well-being, highlighting the need for tailored interventions and increased societal awareness. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying gender differences and weekday–weekend sleep disparities to enhance sleep quality in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents)
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20 pages, 1395 KB  
Systematic Review
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescents’ Eating and Sleeping Habits: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Alicia Cal-Herrera, Ariadna Corbella-González, Silvia Climent-Llinares and Olga I. Fernández-Rodríguez
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2962; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222962 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1601
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Social media has become a key activity in adolescents’ lives, with potential implications for their health and well-being. Because of this, the objective was to examine the influence of social media on the eating behavior and sleep quality of adolescents aged [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Social media has become a key activity in adolescents’ lives, with potential implications for their health and well-being. Because of this, the objective was to examine the influence of social media on the eating behavior and sleep quality of adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, Proquest, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were reviewed following the PRISMA protocol. The inclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 18 years without a baseline clinical diagnosis and research objectives related to social media and its influence on eating behavior or sleep quality. A total of 24 articles were included at the end of the search. Due to heterogeneity in measurement formats, a single pooled analysis was not feasible. Instead, two partial random-effects meta-analyses of continuous outcomes were performed (sleep and eating behaviours). Results: Qualitative synthesis revealed consistent associations between problematic social media use, poor sleep quality, and disordered eating. The meta-analyses showed a small-to-moderate and statistically significant association on sleep quality (r = 0.36) while the pooled estimate for eating behaviours was imprecise and not significant (r = 0.35), reflecting the very limited number of eligible studies. Conclusions: Excessive social media use is associated with poorer sleep and eating outcomes among adolescents. These findings highlight the need for educational and preventive strategies promoting healthy digital habits and psychological well-being. This systematic review elucidates the implications of social media use for health promotion at this development stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity, Sleep, and Nutrition for Health in Children and Adolescents)
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