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Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle
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Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 4426

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yongsuk Seo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
Interests: physical activities; environmental physiology; cognitive function; health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to present this Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health focusing on "Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle". In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the intricate relationship between physical activity and the environments in which we live, work, and play. This Special Issue brings together a collection of insightful research articles that explore various aspects of this dynamic interplay.

From urban landscapes to natural settings and from workplace environments to home spaces, the ways in which our surroundings influence our exercise behaviors and outcomes are manifold. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective strategies to promote physical activity and enhance public health.

The articles featured in this Special Issue delve into topics such as the impact of built environments on physical activity levels, the role of technology in facilitating active living, and the importance of designing inclusive spaces that encourage movement for all individuals. It is our hope that this collection will inspire further research, spark innovative ideas, and inform policies aimed at creating environments that support and encourage active lifestyles.

Dr. Yongsuk Seo
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 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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 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 2500 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

  • exercise (physically demanding activities)
  • environment
  • health and well-being
  • wearable monitoring devices
  • cognitive function

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1306 KiB  
Article
Ventilatory Responses to Progressive Treadmill Speeds in Women: A Comparative Analysis of Nasal, Oral, and Oronasal Breathing Conditions
by Seung Hee Lee, Yongsuk Seo and Dae Taek Lee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(5), 718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22050718 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 165
Abstract
Background: Breathing conditions influence ventilatory efficiency and exercise performance, but little research has examined how different breathing conditions affect cardiorespiratory responses in women. Despite the growing popularity of nasal-only breathing in fitness culture, its physiological benefits remain unclear. The purpose of the current [...] Read more.
Background: Breathing conditions influence ventilatory efficiency and exercise performance, but little research has examined how different breathing conditions affect cardiorespiratory responses in women. Despite the growing popularity of nasal-only breathing in fitness culture, its physiological benefits remain unclear. The purpose of the current study is to examine the ventilatory responses to nasal, oral, and oronasal breathing during treadmill exercise at speeds of 5 to 11 km/h in 10 healthy females. Methods: Participants completed sessions under each breathing condition while heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (VE/VCO2), respiratory frequency (Rf), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (VE), and respiratory timing variables were measured. Results: Breathing condition had minimal impact at lower speeds (5–7 km/h). However, at higher intensities (10–11 km/h), nasal breathing resulted in lower Rf and VE but elevated VE/VCO2, indicating reduced ventilatory efficiency. In contrast, oral and oronasal breathing facilitated greater VE and shorter inspiratory and expiratory times, supporting ventilation under vigorous exercise. Conclusions: While nasal breathing may suffice at low intensities, it is inadequate at higher intensities, potentially leading to carbon dioxide accumulation and early fatigue. These findings support the use of oral or oronasal breathing during higher-intensity activity and highlight the need for individualized breathing strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle)
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14 pages, 543 KiB  
Article
Associations Between the Built Environment in GPS-Derived Activity Spaces and Sedentary Behavior, Light Physical Activity, and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity
by Dante G. Vittor, Jeffrey S. Wilson, Scott E. Crouter, Benjamin G. Ethier, Ling Shi, Sarah M. Camhi and Philip J. Troped
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040566 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 336
Abstract
Built environment and physical activity (PA) studies have predominantly used fixed or home-centric approaches to identify environmental exposures. In this study, GPS-derived daily activity spaces were used to examine the relationships between the built environment and sedentary behavior (SB), light PA (LPA), and [...] Read more.
Built environment and physical activity (PA) studies have predominantly used fixed or home-centric approaches to identify environmental exposures. In this study, GPS-derived daily activity spaces were used to examine the relationships between the built environment and sedentary behavior (SB), light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Thirty-one adults were assessed with activity monitors and GPS units. Three types of activity spaces were created: 50 m buffered GPS tracks, minimum convex hulls (MCHs), and standard deviational ellipses (SDEs). The environmental variables included land use mix, greenness, and intersection, multi-use trail, bike infrastructure, and bike station densities. Repeated measures regression was used to test the associations for 141 person-days, controlling for age, gender, income, body mass index, crime, precipitation, and temperature. Greenness within MCH activity spaces was positively associated with LPA (p = 0.02). The bike infrastructure density within SDE spaces had a significant positive association with MVPA (p = 0.04). Multi-use trail, bike infrastructure, and bike station densities had significant negative associations with LPA (p ≤ 0.05). There were no significant adjusted associations with SB. The few significant associations in this study varied by outcome and type of activity space. Further studies are needed to determine optimal, yet flexible methods for activity spaces in built environment and PA research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle)
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20 pages, 1551 KiB  
Article
A Single Session of Beach Tennis with Recreational Athletes Improves Anxiety Symptoms in Women but Not in Men: A Randomized Trial
by João Victor Rosa de Freitas, Bráulio Evangelista de Lima, Rizia Rocha-Silva, Vinnycius Nunes de Oliveira, Thalles Guillarducci Costa, Mila Alves Matos Rodrigues, Rodrigo Luiz Vancini, Marília Santos Andrade, Gustavo de Conti Teixeira Costa, Lorenzo Laporta, Ricardo Borges Viana and Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010038 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Introduction: Beach tennis has become a popular sport, but research on its mental health benefits is scarce. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have examined the effects of beach tennis on anxiety symptoms. Objectives: To assess the effect of a single [...] Read more.
Introduction: Beach tennis has become a popular sport, but research on its mental health benefits is scarce. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have examined the effects of beach tennis on anxiety symptoms. Objectives: To assess the effect of a single session of beach tennis, in both singles and doubles modes, on anxiety symptoms. Methods: Twenty-two recreational players (11 women, age: 35.00 [13.50] years) were evaluated. Each participant underwent three intervention sessions in random order: one-on-one match (singles), two-on-two match (doubles), and a control session (non-exercise). State anxiety and affective responses were measured before and after each intervention. Results: For men, no significant interaction between time and session was found (p = 0.646). In women, there was a significant interaction between time and session (p = 0.002). Anxiety symptoms significantly decreased from pre- to post-singles condition (p = 0.007) and from pre- to post-doubles condition (p = 0.010). A significant difference was observed between the post-singles and post-control conditions (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Beach tennis demonstrated an anxiolytic effect in women, with significant reductions in anxiety symptoms following both singles and doubles sessions. However, no such effects were observed in men. These findings suggest that beach tennis could be a viable intervention for managing anxiety symptoms in women. The study was registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (registration code: U1111-1293-7949). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle)
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15 pages, 1106 KiB  
Article
Effects of Childcare Hands-On Gardening on Preschoolers’ (3–5 Years) Physical Activity in Semi-Arid Climate Zone
by Muntazar Monsur, Tristen Hefner, Jason Van Allen, Nazia Afrin Trina, S. Y. Andalib and Nilda Cosco
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050548 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2289
Abstract
How hands-on gardening impacts behaviors including healthy eating and physical activity during early childhood can be of critical importance for preventing the early onset of obesity. This study investigates how participating in hands-on gardening impacts preschoolers’ (3–5 years old) physical activity (measured by [...] Read more.
How hands-on gardening impacts behaviors including healthy eating and physical activity during early childhood can be of critical importance for preventing the early onset of obesity. This study investigates how participating in hands-on gardening impacts preschoolers’ (3–5 years old) physical activity (measured by accelerometers) in childcare centers in the semi-arid climate zone. The research was conducted in eight licensed childcare centers located in West Texas with 149 children (n = 149). Four childcare centers in the experimental group received hands-on garden interventions; the other four in the control group did not. In both experimental (intervention) and control (non-intervention) centers, children wore Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers continuously for 5 days before and for 5 days after intervention (a total of 10 days). Results show that the duration of sedentary behavior of children in the experimental (intervention) group significantly decreased compared to children in the control (non-intervention) group. The finding suggests that the positive effects of childcare hands-on gardening on physical activity extend to semi-arid climate zones where gardening is challenging due to high temperatures and lack of annual rainfall. The research emphasizes the critical need to incorporate hands-on gardening in childcare centers as an obesity prevention strategy nationally in the US and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise in Living Environments: A Healthy Lifestyle)
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