Search Results (82)

Background/Objectives: Special diets can be required for medical, religious, cultural, or ethical purposes. This study examined the relationship between the organization of school nutrition and the availability of special diet meals among students in public primary and secondary schools in Kraków (Poland). Methods: An observational study was conducted in 2022 using a web-based survey targeting managers of primary (n = 68) and secondary schools (n = 18), as well as parents of attending students (n = 1730). Factors associated with providing special diets were analyzed using generalized linear models with robust variance estimators. Results: According to school managers, the availability of special diet meals was associated with employing a dietitian responsible for menu planning, the presence of students with disability certificates, students’ participation in school meal programs, and higher per-child nutrition costs. Based on parental reports, 16.01% of all students followed a special diet, most often due to medical recommendations, with a higher prevalence observed among secondary school students (26.7%). Special diets were reported more frequently for children with food intolerances and allergies, obesity, chronic conditions, or disability certificates. Adjusted models also indicated slightly higher probabilities of being on a special diet among students attending secondary schools or sports classes compared with their peers. Conclusions: Improving the availability of special diet meals in schools requires legislative action, adequate funding, and institutional support, including investments in kitchen infrastructure and the employment of dietitians. These measures are particularly important in institutions enrolling children with disabilities to ensure equitable access to appropriate nutrition. Full article

Against the backdrop of efforts to improve the quality of urban spatial stock, assessments of spatial benefits driven by consumption preferences integrate subjective decision-making and objective environmental factors to provide quantitative evidence for urban planning and public investment. This study constructed a “environment-perception–behavior” analytical framework grounded in SOR (stimulus–organism–response) theory. We combined structural equation modeling with the hedonic pricing method to identify causal pathways and quantify the marginal value of spatial elements. XGBoost was employed to uncover consumption-preference thresholds, Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) was used to identify spatial supply–demand relationships, and Social Return on Investment (SROI) was applied to evaluate multidimensional urban spatial benefits. The results showed that transportation accessibility, commercial diversity, green-space quality, and cultural ambiance significantly shaped distinct consumption preferences. Central urban areas approached supply saturation in commercial and daily consumption and exhibited diminishing marginal returns, whereas peripheral zones demonstrated greater potential for sports and cultural consumption. Based on these findings, we reveal the underlying logic of spatial benefit distribution and classify the study area into High-efficiency matching zones, transition matching zones, and potential zones. We further propose targeted optimization recommendations that can inform policy on urban spatial functional positioning and social investment and provide evaluation criteria for prioritizing interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Seasonal variation in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values has been previously documented, with physical activity (PA) and macronutrient intake (MNI) suggested as potential drivers. This study combines seasonal mean HbA1c values from the Dutch (pre)diabetes population with national survey data on PA and MNI from 2018 to 2021 to identify key associations. Methods: HbA1c data were collected from 24 laboratory organizations in the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean. MNI and total energy intake data were extracted from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey, while PA data came from the Dutch National Sports Participation Index Survey. Weighting factors were applied to align PA and MNI data with HbA1c data. Seasonal averages were analyzed for significant differences, and a prediction model compared PA and MNI with actual HbA1c values. Results: Among 5,635,920 HbA1c results, the average HbA1c increased by 0.71 mmol/mol (NGSP 0.06%) over four years, with an overall mean of 52.4 mmol/mol (NGSP 7.0%). Seasonal HbA1c variation showed a dip in summer–autumn and a peak in winter–spring (1.2 mmol/mol; NGSP 0.11%; p < 0.0001). MNI, except for total energy intake (which peaked in summer; p < 0.001), showed no significant trends or association with HbA1c (p = 0.157). PA decreased by 7.2% over the study period, with seasonal peaks in summer–autumn, showing an inverse relationship with HbA1c (p < 0.0001). During the COVID-19 lockdowns, PA significantly decreased, and mean HbA1c values increased more markedly than in previous years. The prediction model confirmed PA as a significant driver of seasonal HbA1c variation (p = 0.004). Conclusions: These findings suggest that PA is the strongest driver of seasonal variation in HbA1c. Public health initiatives and support programs promoting physical activity are essential for improving HbA1c regulation. Full article

Background: The public often places value on youth sport involvement in the United States due to its potential to foster positive outcomes for participants. Although sport parents are key socializers and provide access to appropriate participation opportunities for children, less is known about how their perceptions of their child’s motives influence their sport commitments. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to understand how parents’ perceptions of their child’s motives for sport participation were associated with time/travel sport commitments. Methods: Participants (N = 1250) were parents in the United States reporting on their child’s youth sport participation. Measures assessed their perceptions of their child’s motives for sport involvement, how many hours per week and months per year they engaged in sport, and how far they tended to drive to facilitate sport opportunities. Multiple regressions were utilized. Results: Analyses revealed that the number of months per year was positively predicted by motives for being physically healthy and spending time with friends. Similarly, being with friends was a positive predictor of the number of weekly hours spent in organized sport and having fun positively predicted the distance driven to participate. Motives for becoming more physically attractive negatively predicted time and travel commitments. Conclusions: Overall, the present study sheds light on how the ways parents perceive their children’s motivations for participating in youth sport influences parents’ commitment to facilitating sport participation opportunities for their children. Full article

Background: Rising sedentary behavior and declining physical activity (PA) among youth are major public health concerns. Evidence on how different PA types affect fitness in Chinese children is limited. PA indicators were classified according to the Global Matrix 4.0, an international framework for benchmarking PA in children and adolescents. Objective: To identify which PA types and frequencies, based on the Global Matrix 4.0, are most associated with physical fitness in Chinese youth. Methods: Data from 102,942 children aged 9–18 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics, PA levels, and physical fitness rates. Chi-square tests assessed group differences. Binary logistic regression examined associations between PA and physical fitness, adjusting for gender, age, school level, parental education, and urban–rural residence, with cluster-robust standard errors at the school level. Results: Higher frequencies of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE), and organized sports and physical activity (OSPA) were significantly associated with better fitness (p < 0.001). OSPA (OR = 1.23) and MSE (OR = 1.21) showed the strongest associations. Sedentary behavior was negatively associated with fitness (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Regular engagement in MVPA, MSE, and OSPA, alongside reduced sedentary time, promotes physical fitness among Chinese children and adolescents. Policies should support diverse and consistent PA participation. Full article

Inclusion in play, physical education, outdoor life, organized sports, and other movement-based activities can promote resilience and support physical, emotional, and social well-being. These arenas are particularly important for reducing health disparities and preventing social marginalization across the lifespan. Yet, children and adolescents from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds encounter persistent barriers to participation, rooted in broader inequalities related to their socioeconomic position, disability, gender, ethnicity, and access to supportive environments. This perspective outlines how inclusive movement contexts, when informed by developmental systems theory and resilience frameworks, can interrupt trajectories of marginalization and promote long-term equity in health, education, and work inclusion. We emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches, combining longitudinal and qualitative methods, to uncover how vulnerability and participation interact dynamically over time. By integrating insights from developmental science, education, public health, and spatial ecology, we identify strategic pathways for research and action. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts across sectors and stakeholders to co-create inclusive, context-sensitive interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Various studies have investigated the importance of perceptual–cognitive skills in decision-making and the expert performance of athletes. However, bibliometric study has yet to identify research trends on this topic. The objective of this study was to perform a bibliometric review to identify the research trends in the study of soccer decision-making. Method. A total of 172 studies were included in the databases. Results. The year 2021 was the year with the highest number of published studies (n = 23), and 2016 was the year with the highest number of citations (n = 692). The average number of citations per document was 19.79. The concepts that have the greatest occurrence in the investigations are performance (n = 68), decision-making (n = 54), expertise (n = 32), skill (n = 23), and anticipation (n = 22). The journals with the highest number of published documents are the Journal of Sport Sciences (10 documents and 437 citations) and PLoS One (11 documents and 349 citations). The countries with the highest number of published documents and citations are England (n = 46 documents and 996 citations), Germany (n = 32 documents and 749 citations), and Spain (n = 38 documents and 597 citations). German Sport University Cologne is the organization that has the most publications and citations (n = 19 and 531). Conclusions. Existing knowledge production on decision-making in soccer has a preference for the study of two major categories: one related to the analysis of the factors associated with perceptual–cognitive skills, mental fatigue, anticipation, creativity, and memory, whereas the second is more related to the study that has decision-making in the manifestations of specific game performance, between experts and novices, in the precision of technical actions, such as the pass, as well as in a methodology for the selection of athletes. Full article

The learning environment created by the physical education teacher, through the teaching model employed, can significantly influence students’ engagement during lessons. Therefore, this study aimed to compare tactical-technical learning and students’ self-perceptions of life skills between TGfU and direct instruction. The sample consisted of 67 students, aged between 13 and 15 years, enrolled in the ninth grade of a municipal public school, and the research design involved an intervention consisting of 18 sessions, each lasting 60 min. The results revealed no significant differences between the teaching models regarding tactical-technical variables (p > 0.05). However, concerning life skills, the TGfU/HVs group demonstrated higher mean teamwork scores than the Traditional group (p = 0.008). On the other hand, the Traditional and Control groups achieved higher mean scores for goal setting skills than the TGfU/HVs group (p = 0.001 for both cases). These findings highlight that the organization of sports practice, despite variations in teaching models, fosters students’ self-perceptions of life skills, underscoring the necessity of further research to deepen the understanding of game-based pedagogies in school physical education. It is also imperative to reflect on implementing additional pedagogical practices in schools that align with institutional objectives and actively promote student learning. Full article

Objectives/Background: The Cannabis genus contain a mixture of cannabinoids and other minor components which have been studied so far. In this narrative review, we highlight the main aspects of the polarized discussion between abuse and toxicity versus the benefits of the compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Methods: We investigated databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) documents for scientific publications that can elucidate the heated discussion related to the negative aspects of addiction, organ damage and improved sports performance and the medical benefits, particularly in athletes, of some compounds that are promising as nutrients. Results: Scientific arguments bring forward the harmful effects of cannabinoids, ethical and legislative aspects of their usage as doping substances in sports. We present the synthesis and metabolism of the main cannabis compounds along with identification methods for routine anti-doping tests. Numerous other studies attest to the beneficial effects, which could bring a therapeutic advantage to athletes in case of injuries. These benefits recommend Cannabis sativa compounds as nutrients, as well as potential pharmacological agents. Conclusions and Future Perspectives: From the perspective of both athletes and illegal use investigators in sport, there are many interpretations, presented and discussed in this review. Despite many recent studies on cannabis species, there is very little research on the beneficial effects in active athletes, especially on large groups compared to placebo. These studies may complete the current vision of this topic and clarify the hypotheses launched as discussions in this review. Full article

Currently, sports venues are endowed with the important functions of providing sports venues and facilities to the urban public, watching sports events, publicizing the mass sports culture, etc. An in-depth study of how to enhance the attractiveness of sports venue buildings and the competitiveness of the industry to stimulate the public’s potential for sports consumption is necessary. Based on the perspective of color psychology, this study constructs a three-level structural equation model based on the nested data obtained from the questionnaire survey to explore the relationship between managers’ innovative sports venue colors, athletes’ perceived emotional value, and consumers’ sports venue satisfaction. The results show that innovative sports venue colors have a significant positive effect on consumers’ satisfaction with sports venues, and the perceived emotional value has a positive mediating role in the effect of innovative sports venue colors on consumers’ satisfaction with sports venues. This study aims to provide a basis for sports venue managers or event organizers to improve athlete satisfaction, optimize consumer experience, stimulate residents’ motivation to attend games, and strengthen the profitability of the venues. Full article

The number of people immersed in excessive gaming has increased in this age of rapid digitalization. The World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association Organization recognize a gaming disorder as a condition that results in significant problems in daily life as a result of excessive gaming. Both organizations emphasize the similarities to behavioral addictions such as gambling. We examined the appropriate usage of video games from the perspectives of health and management in this study. For the general population, video games provide positive impacts such as stress alleviation and memory improvement. Game playing leads to a loss of time and money for the individual. It also has a negative impact on the individual’s family and social life, evolving into a social problem. Gaming addiction is often accompanied by psychological disorders and other addictions, and long-term medical treatment, including approaches to the individual’s psychological background and cognitive-behavioral therapy, is necessary. Therefore, the prevention of gaming disorder is essential. From a societal standpoint, action is required in three contexts: the government, game developers, and within the household as a whole. Simultaneously, the public needs to understand the positive potential of gaming, such as e-sports. Full article

Athlete maltreatment in organized sport has attracted considerable attention from governing bodies, stakeholders and the general public. Despite numerous studies and policy proposals from various countries, the problem remains unresolved due to its inherent complexity. Drawing upon the concept of ‘a wicked problem’ widely utilized in policy analysis, this study first identifies the wicked features of maltreatment, focusing on: (1) the difficulty of establishing a definition of maltreatment; (2) the challenges of identifying its causes; and (3) the impediments to identifying solutions in a context of embedded stakeholders and unintended consequences. To provide further analysis, we compare athlete maltreatment with other issues in sport such as doping and match-fixing, to suggest that lessons can be drawn from other wicked problems in the same contested terrain. Overall, given the complex interplay between maltreatment and the maintenance/legitimization of sport systems, this paper calls for continuing attention and evaluation of existing research/policies and advocates for a more multidimensional view that acknowledges maltreatment as a wicked problem. Full article

With the adoption of the concept of sustainable development, mega sports events (MSEs) are gradually aiming to be greener and to lower their carbon footprints. As such, does the hosting of MSEs provide an opportunity for urban green transformation? Taking MSEs in China as a quasi-natural experiment and using prefecture-level panel data from 2000 to 2020, we empirically explored the effects and mechanisms of MSE hosting on the green economic development in urban areas by applying a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The findings revealed that the hosting of MSEs can significantly increase the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of the host city, indicating that MSEs promote the green transformation of urban areas. The results of the mechanism analysis showed that hosting MSEs promotes urban green transformation through three channels: encouraging residents to choose public transport, promoting the development of the digital economy, and upgrading of the industrial structure. In addition, the effect of hosting MSEs on green transformation is stronger in cities where the public is more concerned about the environment. We argue that host city governments should implement the concept of green sports when organizing MSEs, increase public concern about the environment, focus on the development of urban public services, and vigorously develop tertiary industries to drive urban green transformations. Full article

The significance of physical activity in sports is self-evident. However, its importance is becoming increasingly apparent in the context of public health. The constant desire to improve health and performance suggests looking at genetic predispositions. The knowledge of genes related to physical performance can be utilized initially in the training of athletes to assign them to the appropriate sport. In the field of medicine, this knowledge may be more effectively utilized in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. Physical exertion engages the entire organism, and at a basic physiological level, the organism’s responses are primarily related to oxidant and antioxidant reactions due to intensified cellular respiration. Therefore, the modifications involve the body adjusting to the stresses, especially oxidative stress. The consequence of regular exercise is primarily an increase in antioxidant capacity. Among the genes considered, those that promote oxidative processes dominate, as they are associated with energy production during exercise. What is missing, however, is a look at the other side of the coin, which, in this case, is antioxidant processes and the genes associated with them. It has been demonstrated that antioxidant genes associated with increased physical performance do not always result in increased antioxidant capacity. Nevertheless, it seems that maintaining the oxidant–antioxidant balance is the most important thing in this regard. Full article

This paper explores the diverse impact of the Olympic Movement on society, emphasizing core values like ‘excellence’, ‘friendship’, and ‘respect’. Traditionally, the Olympic Movement actively promotes global sport through initiatives such as Olympic education programs, instilling moral dimensions, cultural values, and essential life skills. Recent Olympic Games are scrutinized for their organizers’ focus on safety, pandemic management, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. This paper addresses crucial policy options, spanning human rights, social inclusion through sport, and the pervasive issue of inactivity affecting public health. Noteworthy successes in leveraging sports for refugees and combating substance use disorders are discussed, alongside joint efforts by the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee, to combat inactivity and promote health through sports. Exploration of gender equality in the Olympic Movement recognizes challenges and suggests actions, including increasing female participation and addressing sexual harassment. The intersection of sports, climate change, and environmental responsibility is examined, with a focus on the ambitious ‘climate-positive’ goals of the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, since most of the IOC actions are rather symbolic and not substantial, many organizations are called upon to take active initiatives. Actionable recommendations urge countries to prioritize physical activity policies, organize exercise programs, and collaborate across sectors for health and environmental sustainability. The Olympic Games should focus on promoting mass sports participation, fostering positive attitudes, enhancing public health through sports, education, peace, and societal values, advocating for a holistic approach that champions ethical values, and promoting Olympic education to build a better world through sports. Full article