Promoting physical activity: challenges, opportunities, and evidence-based strategies for active lifestyles

BMC Public Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on Promoting physical activity: challenges, opportunities, and evidence-based strategies for active lifestyles.

Physical activity is a cornerstone of public health, playing a key role in preventing chronic diseases, improving mental health, and enhancing overall well-being. Despite its well-documented benefits, many individuals and populations face challenges in maintaining adequate levels of physical activity. These challenges can vary widely depending on demographic factors, social contexts, and environmental conditions. Understanding the barriers to and facilitators of physical activity is crucial for developing effective, evidence-based interventions and policies that promote active lifestyles. Public health efforts should account for the diverse needs and circumstances of different populations to create tailored, impactful solutions that encourage sustained physical activity.

This Collection invites research that contributes to our understanding of how to effectively promote exercise and physical activity. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Behavioral interventions: strategies to motivate individuals to engage in physical activity

• Community-based programs: successful community initiatives that promote active living

• Technology and innovation: the role of apps, wearables, and online platforms in encouraging physical activity

• Policy and advocacy: policies that support physical activity in schools, workplaces, and public spaces

• Special populations: tailored approaches for promoting physical activity among different demographic groups (e.g., children, older adults, individuals with disabilities)

• Environmental factors: the impact of urban design, green spaces, and infrastructure on physical activity levels

• Health equity: addressing disparities in access to physical activity resources in underserved or marginalized communities

• Workplace interventions: programs or policies that encourage physical activity in occupational settings

• Cultural and socioeconomic factors: the role of cultural and socioeconomic determinants in shaping physical activity behaviors

• Global health initiatives: large-scale public health campaigns or international efforts to promote physical activity globally.

This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 Good Health & Well-Being, SDG4: Quality Education, and SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.