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.

Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease stroke diabetes and breast and colon cancer. It also helps to prevent hypertension overweight and obesity and can improve mental health quality of life and well-being. In addition to the multiple health benefits of physical activity societies that are more active can generate additional returns on investment including a reduced use of fossil fuels cleaner air and less congested safer roads. These outcomes are interconnected with achieving the shared goals political priorities and ambition of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. The new WHO global action plan to promote physical activity responds to the requests by countries for updated guidance and a framework of effective and feasible policy actions to increase physical activity at all levels. It also responds to requests for global leadership and stronger regional and national coordination and the need for a whole-of-society response to achieve a paradigm shift in both supporting and valuing all people being regularly active according to ability and across the life course. The action plan was developed through a worldwide consultation process involving governments and key stakeholders across multiple sectors including health sports transport urban design civil society academia and the private sector.

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.

This handbook provides the latest research related to quality of life and sustainability, taking into account social, economic, environmental, and political/governance aspects as well as specific socio-spatial contexts. The volume includes contributions from established and upcoming scholars from various disciplines and geographical contexts (Global South and North). The varying cultural and socio-spatial contexts of the authors in the selected cases contribute to first-hand knowledge on the realities of sustainability issues affecting the quality of life. The authors apply a wide diversity of methods and tools, which facilitates a unique understanding of the interlinkages between quality of life and sustainability. The chapters are grouped in three main sections: concepts and foundations; tools, techniques, and applications; and innovations. The authors provide their own view and theoretical approximation of the dimensions of sustainability, in particular on how these dimensions play out in relation to quality of life. The combination of sustainability and quality of life concepts and perspectives is particularly important in unravelling the multi-faceted nature of human, urban, rural/spatial development.

Physical therapy involves non-pharmacological interventions in the management of various clinical conditions. It is important to highlight the physical therapy procedures that are suitable, effective and, in general, do not have side effects or complications when properly performed. Physical therapy can be valuable in different situations along of the various steps of human development and in various clinical disorders. Indeed, topics on different approaches have been included in this book, which makes this book useful for readers to improve their professional performance.

The 4th edition of the Oxford Textbook of Children's Sport and Exercise Medicine is the definitive single-volume reference in the field presented in four sections Exercise Science; Exercise Medicine; Sport Science; and Sport Medicine.