Green Exercise for Health and Well-Being

Dear Colleagues,

A growing and significant body of evidence has shown that being physically active in a natural environment or greenspace provides greater benefits to physical and mental health, along with well-being compared with physical activity or nature contact alone, and these benefits seem to be attainable within all age and sex groups, health conditions and contexts. Nonetheless, considering the actual context of increased sedentary behaviors, the aging population and the augmented costs of health services, more quality research is needed to evaluate the effects of exposure to nature in health and well-being to inform public health priorities.

This Special Issue of Sports aims at gathering the most recent research on the impact of green exercise on physical and mental health, and well-being across life stages, health conditions and settings, as well as highlighting the potential of green exercise in reversing inactive lifestyles.

Assuming the broader definition of green exercise as the combination of physical activity and nature exposure, and targeting the increase in the available knowledge on green exercise as an effective tool to improve physical and mental health, and well-being outcomes, studies with the following aims are of interest:

• To evaluate the effects of short- and long-term exposure to nature in health and well-being, in cross-sectional or longitudinal interventions with physical activity and/or exercise;
• Establish the magnitude and relative effect of nature-based interventions;
• Investigate the underlying effects and mechanisms of green exercise;
• Understanding who can benefit the most from regular ‘doses’ of green exercise;
• Analyze the effects of green exercise on the quality of life;
• Study long-term adherence to physical activity through green exercise;
• Compare the effects of outdoor exercise in nature versus indoor exercise;
• Investigate the possible ways in which natural areas may promote public health;
• Explore the potential of green exercise in encouraging active lifestyles.

Studies developed with any given population (children, adolescents, adults and older people), include those that are healthy or with any sort of health condition, are welcome.

Dr. Teresa Bento
Dr. Luis Cid
Dr. Nuno Rafael Pedro Couto
Guest Editors

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