Healthy Child, Healthy Adult—Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity as a Public Health Concern
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 147
Special Issue Editors
Interests: nutrition; physical activity; exercise and disease states; health and well-being; performance nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: physical activity and sedentary behaviour measurements; physical activity promotion and sedentary behaviour awareness; physical activity promotion for improved health outcomes and aging; strength and conditioning for improved health and performance
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Childhood is generally considered a healthy period in a person’s life; however, lifestyles and behaviour established during childhood result in many non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that may manifest in later life and are a public health issue. Many of these NCDs are the result of modifiable risk behaviours established during childhood, such as a low level of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, unhealthy dietary patterns, high ultra-processed food (UPD) intake and poor sleeping patterns. Investing in the health of the young and encouraging healthy living today will have benefits for individuals in the future and the health of the nation [1].
Over the past decade, and specifically since COVID-19, time spent sitting and reclining while expending little energy (eg, sedentary behaviour) and engagement in specific sedentary activities (eg, screen-based behaviours) have rapidly emerged as potential additional risk factors for children’s physical and mental well-being. Screen use has changed from TV to other screens; therefore, different metrics may need to be considered in order to assess sedentary behaviour [2].
Nutrition must also be considered when looking towards the long-term health of children. Specific nutrients and food groups have long been established as purveyors of good health; however, the current generation of young people will be the first to have had such a great influence from dietary considerations such as ultra-processed foods (UPFs). In recent decades, a nutrition transition has resulted in a global shift away from consuming minimally processed foods and towards ultra-processed alternatives, away from home-prepared dishes and ready-to-eat meals and snacks [3]. This same period has seen a rapid rise in the global prevalence of NCDs in children and adults.
This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of children’s physical activity and nutrition, with regard to current and long term health issues and NCDs as a public health concern and the consequences for individuals. New research papers, reviews, case reports and conference papers are welcome to this Special Issue. Other manuscript types accepted include methodological papers, position papers, brief reports and commentaries.
References
- Lee, I.M.; Shiroma, E.J.; Lobelo, F.; Puska, P.; Blair, S.N.; Katzmarzyk, P.T. Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: An analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet 2012, 380, 219–229.
- Carson, V.; Hunter, S.; Kuzik, N.; Gray, C.E.; Poitras, V.J.; Chaput, J.P.; Saunders, T.J.; Katzmarzyk, P.T.; Okely, A.D.; Gorber, S.C. et al. Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth: An update. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016; 41, 240–265.
- Popkin, B.M.; Adair, L.S.; Ng, S.W. The Global Nutrition Transition: The Pandemic of Obesity in Developing Countries. Rev. 2012, 70, 3–21
Dr. Lindsy Kass
Dr. Gillian McLellan
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. 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
- children
- physical activity
- nutrition
- sedentary behaviour
- UPFs
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
