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BackgroundIn recent years, a number of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles in health-friendly environments have been implemented. The purpose of this review is to synthesize initiatives conducted in Canada and documented in publications for the period 1995–2015 in order to gain a better understanding of their objectives and impacts.MethodsA systematic review of Canadian initiatives published over the past 20 years was conducted from multiple databases (i.e., Scopus, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Academic search complete, Reseausante.com, Cairn, and Erudit). In total, 264 publications were identified and retained for the final analysis based on 5 criteria: (1) publication between 1995 and 2015, (2) online availability, (3) research conducted in Canada, (4) main topic related to environments favorable to healthy lifestyles (EFHL), and (5) publication in French or English.ResultsA sharp increase in the number of studies on EFHL was observed between 2010 and 2015 (57%). Two major lifestyle components—physical activity and nutrition—and 2 environmental aspects—neighborhood and built environment—were the elements most frequently examined regarding adults (48%), young people (34%), and seniors (9%), using quantitative (60%) and qualitative (18%) methods. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a greater focus on the municipal (53%) than the national or provincial levels (31%).ConclusionThis work is a first map of Canadian studies related to EFHL. It clarifies the definition of EFHL and classifies its components. As well, it documents the issues raised, the research methods employed, and the role of stakeholders, while outlining a new research agenda that includes dimensions of EFHL formerly neglected by researchers, namely, political and sociocultural spheres of action.

BackgroundThe climate change manifestations are associated with dramatic consequences for human health and threat physical activity behaviors.ObjectiveThe aims of this systematic review were to present the potential bidirectional associations between climate change consequences and physical activity (PA) behaviors in human and to propose the first synthesis of the literature through a conceptual model of climate change and PA. MethodsStudies published before October 2019, were identified through database searches in Pubmed, PsycArticles, CINAHL, SportDiscus, GreenFILE and GeoRef. Studies examining the associations between PA domains and climate change (e.g., natural disaster, air pollution, carbon footprint) were included.ResultsA narrative synthesis was performed and the 63 identified articles were classified into 6 topics: air pollution and PA, extreme weather conditions and PA, greenhouse gas emissions and PA, carbon footprint among sport participants, natural disasters and PA and the future of PA and sport practices in a changing world. Then, a conceptual model was proposed to identify the multidimensional associations between climate change and PA as well as sport practices. The results indicated a consistent negative effect of air pollution, extreme temperatures and natural disasters on PA levels. This PA reduction will be more severe in adults with chronic diseases, higher body mass index and elderly. The sport and PA communities can play an important mitigation role in post-natural disaster contexts. However, transport related to sport practices are also a source of greenhouse gas emissions.ConclusionThe climate change consequences increasingly and disproportionately impact PA at worldwide scale. PA has two concurrent mitigation and amplification roles towards climate changes.

Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) is an international movement that began in the 2000s with the Millennium Development Goals (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) and is currently continuing around the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030, driven by international organizations such as UNESCO. Often located in an international development context, organizations and associations use sport as a vehicle to reach several social and humanitarian missions (e.g., education, social cohesion, health, reintegration, diplomacy, and peace). This chapter presents the origins and objectives of the SDP, but it also looks at current research in the field. Since 2010, studies have significantly increased in the field around four main areas (macrosociological, field explorations, program management and evaluation, and literature reviews). This chapter also provides illustrations of SDP research projects, axis of tensions between practice and theory, and perspectives for future research in the field.

Background: The health benefits of physical activity (PA) for children are well documented. However, little is known about PA patterns among immigrant children. Methods: The authors reviewed research on PA patterns of immigrant children. The inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles published from January 2010 to May 2018 in English, French, or Spanish that included primary-school-aged (6–12 y) children, and data on immigration status. Results: A total of 11 articles were included in the analyses. These studies revealed a deficit of PA among immigrant children. Immigration status (immigrant or nonimmigrant) and generation of immigration (first, second, and third), ethnic origin, and gender were associated with PA patterns. In general, PA levels were lower among first-generation immigrant children, children of Hispanic and East Asian origin, and girls. The results suggest that questionnaire measures might be biased or inaccurate among immigrant children, highlighting the need for the integration of mixed methods (objective and subjective measures). Conclusions: A large proportion of children do not meet PA guidelines, and this might be more problematic for immigrant children. Future studies incorporating time since immigration, comparative analyses on gender, sociocultural and socioeconomic characteristics, and mixed methodology could provide a more complete portrait of PA patterns and opportunities for immigrant children.