Non-Communicable Diseases Silent Killer: Metabolic and Obesity Risks of Sedentary Behaviors

Abstract submission deadline

30 July 2026

Manuscript submission deadline

30 September 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for the majority of preventable morbidity and mortality. Among the most significant contributors are sedentary behaviors, which silently increase the risk of obesity, metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and related health complications. As modern lifestyles become increasingly inactive, the need to better understand the biological, clinical, and societal impacts of sedentary behavior has never been more urgent. This Topic aims to shed light on these silent killers by bringing together innovative research, critical analyses, and practical solutions that can guide both clinical practice and public health policy. The fourth Ellisras Longitudinal Study and Other None-Communicable Diseases Studies International Conference dated 25 to 27 November 2025 at University of Limpopo and Radibaki Primary School, South Africa aim to combat thsese silent killer at community level. We warmly invite researchers to contribute original articles, reviews, and perspectives that deepen our understanding of sedentary behavior as a modifiable risk factor for NCDs. Original research and review papers with emphasis on, but not limited to, the following topics are welcome:

1. Metabolic and obesity-related risks associated with sedentary behavior in diverse populations.
2. Mechanistic insights, epidemiological trends, and intervention strategies targeting sedentary lifestyles.
3. Platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration between medicine, public health, behavioral science, and policy.
4. Evidence-based strategies to reduce the global burden of NCDs through prevention, early detection, and sustainable health promotion.
5. None communicable diseases  reproductive and environmetal health  risk factors

Prof. Dr. Kotsedi Daniel Monyeki
Dr. Machoene Derrick Sekgala
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Children children	2.1	3.8	2014	17.5 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Healthcare healthcare	2.7	4.7	2013	22.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Life life	3.4	6.0	2011	16.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	3.7	6.9	2011	16.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Nutrients nutrients	5.0	9.1	2009	15 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Obesities obesities	1.3	1.8	2021	18.6 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Nutrients Metabolites Healthcare Children Obesities Life

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11 pages, 224 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Normal Weight Obesity and Grip Strength: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Neri Alvarez-Villalobos, Carlos Porras-Barrientos, Gabriela Elizondo-Omaña and Alejandro Burciaga-Muñoz

Obesities 2026, 6(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities6010014 - 21 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1085

Abstract

Obesity is a global health concern affecting all income levels, with body mass index (BMI) traditionally used for diagnosis. However, BMI does not accurately reflect body composition. Normal weight obesity (NWO) describes individuals with a normal BMI but elevated body fat percentage and [...] Read more.

Obesity is a global health concern affecting all income levels, with body mass index (BMI) traditionally used for diagnosis. However, BMI does not accurately reflect body composition. Normal weight obesity (NWO) describes individuals with a normal BMI but elevated body fat percentage and has been associated with metabolic abnormalities and reduced physical fitness. This cross-sectional study included 384 adults aged 18–40 years with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m². Anthropometric measurements and body composition were assessed using an InBody H20 bioelectrical impedance device, and handgrip strength was measured with a Camry electronic dynamometer. NWO was defined as body fat percentage ≥20% in men and ≥30% in women. The overall prevalence of NWO was 77.3%. Although prevalence appeared higher in men than in women, this difference was not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Participants with NWO showed significantly higher body fat percentage, visceral fat index, hip circumference, and blood pressure compared with normal weight non-obese individuals after Holm–Bonferroni correction. Skeletal muscle mass was lower in the NWO group, although this difference did not remain statistically significant after adjustment. Multivariate logistic regression identified right-hand grip strength as an independent protective factor against NWO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Non-Communicable Diseases Silent Killer: Metabolic and Obesity Risks of Sedentary Behaviors)

26 pages, 672 KB  

Open AccessReview

Adipose Tissue Circadian Dysregulation Beyond BMI: Implications for Cardiometabolic Risk and Cardiovascular Disease

by Maria-Daniela Tanasescu, Andrei-Mihnea Rosu, Alexandru Minca, Maria-Mihaela Grigorie, Delia Timofte and Dorin Ionescu

Life 2026, 16(2), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020305 - 10 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Cardiometabolic and cardiovascular risks are commonly assessed using body mass index (BMI) and static measures of adiposity; however, individuals with similar BMI frequently exhibit markedly different metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. This heterogeneity reflects not only differences in fat distribution but also variation in [...] Read more.

Cardiometabolic and cardiovascular risks are commonly assessed using body mass index (BMI) and static measures of adiposity; however, individuals with similar BMI frequently exhibit markedly different metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. This heterogeneity reflects not only differences in fat distribution but also variation in adipose tissue function and its temporal regulation. Adipose tissue contains intrinsic circadian clocks that coordinate daily rhythms in lipid storage and mobilization, insulin sensitivity, adipokine secretion, and immune activity in alignment with sleep–wake and feeding–fasting cycles. Circadian misalignment, as occurs with shift work, irregular sleep, or mistimed food intake, disrupts this coordination and promotes adipose tissue dysfunction characterized by impaired rhythmic lipid handling, altered endocrine signaling, inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress. Emerging evidence suggests that circadian dysregulation may differentially affect adipose depots, including visceral, epicardial, and perivascular fat, thereby linking chronodisruption to insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, heart failure phenotypes, and arrhythmia susceptibility. This narrative review synthesizes human, experimental, and translational studies examining adipose tissue circadian regulation as a functional determinant of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular risk beyond BMI. We also discuss the clinical implications of circadian-informed strategies, including chrononutrition and time-restricted eating, as potential tools to improve risk stratification and cardiometabolic health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Non-Communicable Diseases Silent Killer: Metabolic and Obesity Risks of Sedentary Behaviors)

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19 pages, 311 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Behaviors, Sugar Intake, and Public Awareness of Nutritional Labeling Among Young Adults: Implications for Oral and Systemic Health

by Catalina Iulia Saveanu, Paula Ilie, Daniela Anistoroaei, Livia Ionela Bobu, Alexandra Ecaterina Saveanu, Octavian Boronia and Loredana Golovcencu

Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010091 - 27 Dec 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Within public health and preventive nutrition, food labeling plays a critical role in supporting healthier dietary behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the behaviors, perceptions, and nutritional literacy of young adults from Iași, Romania, regarding simple carbohydrates (SCHO) consumption and food [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Within public health and preventive nutrition, food labeling plays a critical role in supporting healthier dietary behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the behaviors, perceptions, and nutritional literacy of young adults from Iași, Romania, regarding simple carbohydrates (SCHO) consumption and food label-reading habits. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May–June 2023 using 20-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 150 participants aged 18–30 years. Statistical analysis included descriptive metrics, Chi-square tests, and Pearson’s correlation, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The cohort consisted of 72% females (N = 108) and 28% males (N = 42), with 42.7% (N = 64) holding university degrees. Although 22% (N = 33) considered SCHO consumption highly important, only 13.3% (N = 20) frequently read nutrition labels (p ≤ 0.05). Dietary patterns showed that 27.3% primarily consumed sweets, while others combined sweets with carbonated beverages, dairy products, or whole grains; overall, 44% (N = 66) reported frequent sweet consumption. Label reading was highest for sweets (40.7%), lower for dairy products (19.3%) and soft drinks (9.3%). Additionally, 30.7% (N = 46) checked only expiration dates, whereas just 11.3% (N = 17) reviewed nutritional content. Trust in label accuracy was low: 48% (N = 72) expressed neutrality and 14% (N = 21) disagreed. Although 77.3% (N = 116) recognized the link between sugar intake and dental caries, only 23.3% (N = 35) felt well informed about oral health risks. Taste dominated food selection (68.7%), while nutritional value was cited by 16.7% (N = 25). Conclusions: Young adults from Iași demonstrated notable gaps in nutritional literacy and suboptimal dietary behaviors, emphasizing the need for structured educational strategies to improve preventive practices relevant to systemic and oral health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Non-Communicable Diseases Silent Killer: Metabolic and Obesity Risks of Sedentary Behaviors)

12 pages, 563 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Eating Speed and Its Associations with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children

by Manuel Abraham Gómez-Martínez, Diana Rodríguez-Vera, Gabriela Olivares Mendoza, Fernanda Lobato Lastiri, José A. Morales-González, Rodolfo Pinto-Almazán and Arely Vergara-Castañeda

Children 2025, 12(12), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121686 - 11 Dec 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objective: Mexico has experienced an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren, predisposing them to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, rapid eating has been increasingly implicated in the dysregulation of appetite control, greater energy intake, and adverse metabolic outcomes [...] Read more.

Background/Objective: Mexico has experienced an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren, predisposing them to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, rapid eating has been increasingly implicated in the dysregulation of appetite control, greater energy intake, and adverse metabolic outcomes in children. Prior evidence indicates that a faster eating pace is associated with excess adiposity and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to compare cardiovascular risk factors (waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, body mass index (BMI), and lipid profile) among school-aged Mexican children according to self-reported eating speed. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Public elementary schools in Mexico. Participants: Ninety school-aged children (52.2% female) aged 6–12 years old. Eating speed was assessed using an adapted and validated self-administered questionnaire. Intervention: No intervention was applied; participants were classified into slow-, normal-, or fast-eating groups according to their usual eating speed as reported in the instrument, which includes questions regarding self-perception and family perception. Main Outcome Measure: The primary outcomes included anthropometric parameters (BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio), blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and biochemical markers of lipid metabolism (triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol). Analysis: Descriptive statistics were computed, and comparisons across eating speed groups were performed using one-way ANOVA for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical data. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Among the 90 children evaluated, 17.7% were classified as fast eaters. Although gender differences in eating speed were not statistically significant (χ²= 4.607, p = 0.100), a higher proportion of boys were classified as fast eaters. Children in the fast-eating group exhibited significantly higher BMI (1.4 kg/m²), waist circumference (4 cm greater), and modest elevations in triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, alongside lower HDL cholesterol, relative to their slow-eating peers (all p < 0.05). Among all variables, only diastolic blood pressure differed significantly across groups (F = 3.92, p = 0.022), with fast eaters showing the highest values. Nevertheless BMI, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol were not statistically significant in the logistic regression, and HDL cholesterol demonstrated an association close to 95% [0.051 (0.011–0.226)] to a protective factor against cardiometabolic events, estimating an effect size of 1.64 using Cohen’s d, which is considered a large effect, when compared to their slower-eating peers. Conclusions and Implications: Faster eating speed was consistently associated with unfavorable anthropometric and lipid profile indicators, aligning with previous evidence linking rapid eating to early cardiometabolic alterations. These findings emphasize the relevance of including eating behavior assessments in pediatric cardiovascular risk screenings and prevention strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Non-Communicable Diseases Silent Killer: Metabolic and Obesity Risks of Sedentary Behaviors)

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