The modern way of life is, to a large extent, connected with a number of problems that occur in the field of public health, and non-communicable diseases are one of them. It is well-know that non-communicable diseases are chronic diseases that tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors. The main types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, while the main risk factors are modifiable behavioral risk factors (such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol) and metabolic risk factors (such as raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia). According to WHO data, non-communicable diseases kill more than 40 million people each year, which is equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. It is also true that more than 15 million people die each year from non-communicable diseases between the ages of 30 and 69 years. According to the same source, other cardiovascular diseases account for most non-communicable deaths annually (about 17.9 million people), but deaths caused by cancers (about 9.3 million), respiratory diseases (about 4.1 million), and diabetes (about 1.5 million) are not far away. This indicates the need for further focus on this very important social issue in the 21st century, also to be address as part of the United Nations 2030 agenda. Although ancient physicians, including those from China and Ancient Greece, believed in the value of physical activity for health, a diametrically opposite view has prevailed instead by the twentieth century. Since the first rigorous, epidemiologic studies investigating physical inactivity and chronic disease risk has been conducted in the last century, a large body of evidence has clearly documented the many health benefits of physical activity; however, a large proportion of the world’s population remains physically inactive. For this reason, this Research Topic aims to continue developing knowledge of the effects of physical (in)activity on major non-communicable diseases, and a better understanding of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors which are convincingly related.

The third edition of the definitive international reference book on all aspects of the medical care of older persons will provide every physician involved in the care of older patients with a comprehensive resource on all the clinical problems they are likely to encounter, as well as on related psychological, philosophical, and social issues.

Childhood obesity is an international public health concern, with a high profile in both the media and government policy. Controversial issues in the prevention of childhood obesity need to be considered early in the development of school, clinical or community prevention programs, as these issues are often the ones that promote the success or failure of attempts to ameliorate the problem at hand. This book combines health education theory, research, and practice to guide researchers, students, educators, community health workers and practitioners in the prevention of childhood obesity and the promotion of child and adolescent health and well-being. It examines controversy in childhood obesity, including the link with poverty and the difficulty of addressing obesity whilst also tackling the issue of eating disorders. The prevalence of childhood obesity is covered, with international chapters examining the importance of factors such as social class and ethnic differences, and global and local trends are identified. Approaches to prevention are presented, and the book concludes with the successful outcome of various interventions, demonstrating how the whole school community can collaborate to promote health among young people.

Lifestyle change is universally recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disease, yet, the majority of clinical practice, educational programs, and clinical trials within these chronic disease spaces focus on medication use and procedures, with insufficient emphasis on lifestyle medicine. The concept of lifestyle medicine can serve as a countermeasure, acting through aspects of personal choice, natural and built environments, cultural traditions, and socioeconomic influences that affect the metabolic health of an individual. Integrating Lifestyle Medicine for Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiometabolic Disease provides clinical evidence for and a mechanistic understanding of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. It guides the reader to identify opportunities for early intervention rather than focus on the diagnosis and treatment of the established disease. Interventions at earlier points have the potential to mitigate progression, prevent complications, reduce costs, and improve a patient’s overall health at all points in their lifetime. Key Features Provides mechanistic, epidemiological, and clinical understanding of all pillars of lifestyle medicine Presents information on mechanisms for lifestyle medicine in cardiometabolic disease Features a unique model that includes recognition of predisease and even pre-predisease with rationale for intervention Promotes evidence-based recommendations for all stages of cardiometabolic disease This volume in the Lifestyle Medicine series is an essential resource for clinicians and students, providing them with information to help them to prevent complications, reduce costs, and improve a patient’s overall health at all points in their lifetime.

Childhood Obesity: From Basic Knowledge to Effective Prevention brings together field experts, taking a multifactorial approach to understand the scope and various causes of the issue and offer the latest in treatment and prevention strategies and resources. Beginning with basic concepts and definitions, chapters progress to cover worldwide prevalence and trends, genetic and epigenetic origins, metabolic programming, and neuroendocrine control of appetite and satiety. Further, this book examines social determinants and lifestyle behaviors contributing to risk factors as well as complications associated with childhood obesity. Final chapters discuss multidisciplinary treatment, strategies for prevention, and current worldwide policies aimed to address obesity in children. This fundamental reference is a vital resource for both researchers and practicing clinicians in pediatric medicine. - Provides a comprehensive approach to childhood obesity - Presents a multi-omics description of the early origins of childhood obesity - Includes innovative strategies to treat and prevent obesity in children

In this book, distinguished contributors, including anthropologists, human biologists, physiologists, nutritionists, and clinical scientists, describe many of the new strategies for assessing body composition and physical performance. This volume is suitable for students and professionals in sports nutrition and exercise. It provides a needed link between body composition and physical performance. It will also be useful to workers in sports medicine and ergonomics.

Welfare is commonly conceptualized in socio-economic terms of equity, highlighting distributive issues within growing economies. While GDP, income growth and rising material standards of living are normally not questioned as priorities in welfare theories and policy making, there is growing evidence that Western welfare standards are not generalizable to the rest of the planet if environmental concerns, such as resource depletion or climate change, are considered. Sustainability and the Political Economy of Welfare raises the issue of what is required to make welfare societies ecologically sustainable. Consisting of three parts, this book regards the current financial, economic and political crisis in welfare state institutions and addresses methodological, theoretical and wider conceptual issues in integrating sustainability. Furthermore, this text is concerned with the main institutional obstacles to the achievement of sustainable welfare and wellbeing, and how these may feasibly be overcome. How can researchers assist policymakers in promoting synergy between economic, social and environmental policies conducive to globally sustainable welfare systems? Co-authored by a variety of cross-disciplinary contributors, a diversity of research perspectives and methods is reflected in a unique mixture of conceptual chapters, historical analysis of different societal sectors, and case studies of several EU countries, China and the US. This book is well suited for those who are interested in and study welfare, ecological economics and political economy.

Long-Term Athlete Development describes how to systematically develop sporting excellence and increase active participation in local, regional, and national sport organizations. This resource describes the long-term athlete development (LTAD) model, an approach to athlete-centered sport that combines skill instruction with long-term planning and an understanding of human development. By learning about LTAD, sport administrators and coaches will gain the knowledge and tools to enhance participation and improve performance and growth of athletes. This text offers the first in-depth and practical explanation of the LTAD model. Long-Term Athlete Development integrates current research on talent development and assessment into practice to help sport leaders plan athletic development across the life span or design detailed programs for a particular group, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities. Authors Balyi, Way, and Higgs—pioneers and veteran LTAD facilitators—critique current talent development models, discuss the limitations of the LTAD model, and demonstrate the benefits of LTAD as a new approach. By integrating knowledge of these models, readers are able to analyze their own programs and take steps to improve sport and coaching philosophies and reach adherence and performance goals. Explanations and visuals of concepts help readers understand the state of knowledge in talent identification and long-term athlete development. Chapter-opening vignettes offer examples of how the LTAD model can be used to alleviate common issues. Listings at the end of each chapter offer sources for further study, and reflection questions guide readers in applying the content. The text offers a logical presentation of current research: • Key factors that guide and shape the LTAD model, such as physical literacy, the differences between early- and late-specialization sports, and variations in trainability across the life span • Information on the time needed to develop excellence in sport and how periodization of training is related to the developmental stage of the athlete • The seven stages of LTAD, from development of fundamental movement skills to training for elite competition and the transition to lifelong physical activity • Considerations in the development of optimal programs for participants passing through each of the seven stages Long-Term Athlete Development is an essential guide to improving the quality of sport, developing high-performance athletes, and creating healthy, active citizens. It offers parents, coaches, and sport administrators a deeper understanding of the LTAD model, helping them create an enjoyable, developmentally appropriate environment for both competitive athletes and enthusiastic participants.