Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Official Journal of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health
Indexed in: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest, APA PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar
Print ISSN: 1543-3080
Online ISSN: 1543-5474
2023 Impact Factor: 2.9
2023 CiteScore: 5.5
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Founded in 2004, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH) is a leading interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal for researchers who study physical activity and its broad-ranging implications for health.
Vision
Our vision is to drive transformational change in physical activity participation globally. We achieve this vision by publishing high-quality research that helps individuals, communities, practitioners, and policymakers understand, prioritize, and promote physical activity as a fundamental pillar of health and well-being for everyone.
Mission
Our mission is to publish impactful research that addresses critical evidence gaps worldwide related to the science, practice, and policy of physical activity. We achieve this mission through timely editorial processes, rigorous peer review, and active engagement with the global research community.
Scope
JPAH, published monthly, seeks research on physical activity (and sedentary behavior) that will change how the world views the relationship between physical activity and health. JPAH adheres to and promotes rigorous peer-review and quality standards, and publishes research from a variety of disciplinary perspectives (e.g., epidemiology, behavioral science, physiology, public health, policy studies, environmental science, urban planning, education, sociology). We are led by a large group of Editors and Editorial Board members who represent more than 30 countries spanning the globe. As the official journal of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH), JPAH addresses both traditional and emerging health challenges by publishing insightful research that impacts public health policy and practice worldwide. JPAH encourages submissions that explore the intersection of physical activity with pressing global health issues, aiming to contribute to evidence-based solutions that promote health equity and resilience across diverse populations.
JPAH Publishes Research That Covers:
- The evaluation of behavioral, community, environmental, and policy interventions affecting physical activity at both individual and population levels
- Implementation science related to scale-up and integrating physical activity research into evidence-based best practices in public health settings
- The role of social norms, cultural factors, built environments, and policies in shaping physical activity behaviors and health outcomes
- Systems-based thinking that focuses on collaborative approaches to increasing physical activity with diverse stakeholders
- Surveillance and assessment of a wide range of activity behaviors (e.g., 24-hour movement behaviors, screen-viewing, sport)
- The role of physical activity in the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, mental and cognitive health, obesity, cancer, diabetes), including the syndemic of chronic and infectious diseases
- Physical activity as it relates to global public health challenges, such as climate change and health disparities
- Physical activity across the life course (e.g., pre-conception, pregnancy, early childhood, children and adolescents, young adults, adulthood, and older adults)
- Physical activity in various settings (e.g., schools, workplaces, urban and rural, childcare, transport).
Publishing Priorities
JPAH aims to generate insights that support equitable health outcomes across diverse populations within local, national, and global settings. The journal prioritizes evaluative research (including trials and natural experimental evaluations), quantitative and qualitative observational research, and reviews. We also welcome innovative methodological and interdisciplinary research, commentaries, and letters to the editor. JPAH is unlikely to publish narrative reviews, protocol papers, pilot studies, and cross-sectional research replicating existing knowledge or addressing questions that require a longitudinal study design (e.g., the role of physical activity in cardiovascular disease prevention).
Commitment to Research From Low- and Middle-Income Countries
JPAH welcomes physical activity research from all cultures and geographic regions. JPAH actively encourages its editorial leadership, reviewers, authors, and readers to work towards reducing publication bias related to geographic, social, and environmental contexts. Please read our position statement on publication bias related to research from low- and middle-income (i.e., Majority World, Global South) countries. All published research articles from author groups based in World Bank denoted low- and middle-income countries are free to read (at no charge) for the first three months of online publication.
Why Publish in JPAH?
Research published in JPAH is disseminated worldwide and helps educate practitioners, public health strategists, and policymakers, in addition to fellow scientists. With its strong reputation and ties to ISPAH, the journal enhances the credibility and visibility of your work, ensuring it informs future research, guidelines, and interventions.
- JPAH does not charge article processing fees or submission fees
- JPAH does not charge publishing fees unless you elect for open or free access as your desired publication method (see below section, Open and free access)
- ISPAH members receive a 50% discount on free access publication fees
- Rigorous and timely peer review
- Fast online publication
- Effective promotion and dissemination
- JPAH is well-indexed, including in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest, APA PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar
- We market all accepted articles on social media: LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram (Note: in alignment with the journal’s mission and vision, we have decided to no longer actively disseminate research on X)
- Selected articles are co-promoted by ISPAH
- All articles from author groups based in low- and middle-income countries (as denoted by the World Bank) are published free to read for the first three months at no charge
- We feature brief interviews with Early Career Researchers who publish in JPAH
- We award the top articles each year in a range of categories and reward each author group by making the paper free to access. (See our previous award winners.)
Open and Free Access
JPAH is a subscription-model (hybrid) journal that provides the option to publish your article as 1) subscription-only (at no cost to the authors); 2) free access (freely available to read and the publisher retains copyright); or 3) open access (freely available to read and authors retain copyright through a Creative Commons license).
Free Access
- Copyright assigned to Human Kinetics ($2,000)
- If you or a co-author are an ISPAH member, you qualify for a 50% discount on free access ($1,000)
Open Access
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 ($2,250)
- CC BY-NC 4.0 ($2,450)
- CC BY 4.0 ($2,950)
Peer Review Academy
In 2024, JPAH partnered with ISPAH to create the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy, an opportunity for early career researchers to receive mentorship and hands-on training in peer review from senior researchers in the field of physical activity.
Editors
Melody Ding
University of Sydney, Australia
Melody became co-Editor of JPAH in 2023 after previously serving as one of the Journal’s Senior Associate Editors. She is a Professor with the Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Charles Perkins Centre, at the University of Sydney. She is co-lead of the Sport and Physical Activity Research and Teaching Network. As an epidemiologist and population behavioral scientist, she works at the intersection of physical activity, epidemiology, and chronic disease prevention, with a focus on the environmental and social contexts. She led the Lancet Physical Activity Series in 2016 and served as a steering committee member in 2021. Born and raised in China, she studied marine biology at the Ocean University of China prior to receiving an MPH from San Diego State University and a PhD from the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health at the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University in the USA.
Pedro C. Hallal
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Pedro became Editor of JPAH in 2021 after previously serving on the Journal’s Editorial Board and as a Senior Associate Editor. In 2022, he became a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois. Prior to that, he served as the President of the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil from 2017 to 2020, where he was also Professor and Director of the MPH and PhD graduate programs in Epidemiology. He has published more than 500 scientific articles in the fields of physical activity and public health and his research has been funded by Brazilian and international agencies, including Wellcome Trust. He was the leader of the 2012 Lancet Physical Activity Series and served as a steering committee member of the 2016 and 2021 series. He is one of the founders and former president of the Brazilian Society of Physical Activity and Health. More recently, he served as the Principal Investigator for the EPICOVID19 project, the largest epidemiological study on COVID-19 in Brazil, and in 2021 was named Fulbright Chair in Public Health at University of California, San Diego. He is a member of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health. Pedro earned his PhD in Epidemiology from the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil in 2005.Editors Emeriti
Steven N. Blair, University of South Carolina, USA (Founding Editor)
James R. Morrow, Jr., University of North Texas, USA (Founding Editor)
Jennifer M. Hootman, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
Harold W. Kohl III, University of Texas–Austin, USA
Loretta DiPietro, George Washington University, USA
Deputy Editors
Valerie Carson
University of Alberta, Canada
Gregore Mielke
The University of Queensland, Australia
Esther van Sluijs
University of Cambridge, UK
Senior Associate Editors
Karim Abu-Omar
Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Shiho Amagasa
Teikyo University, Japan
Salomé Aubert
Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, France
Liangkai Chen
Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Borja del Pozo Cruz
Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain
Paddy Dempsey
Deakin University, Australia; University of Cambridge, UK; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Australia; and Leicester Diabetes Centre, UK
Genevieve F. Dunton
University of Southern California, USA
Alex Florindo
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Lucy D. Gunn
RMIT University, Australia
Bjørge Herman Hansen
University of Agder, Norway
Rebecca E. Hasson
University of Michigan, USA
Kathryn Hesketh
University of Cambridge, UK
Alejandra Jauregui
Mexican National Institute of Public Health, Mexico
Tracy Kolbe-Alexander
University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Australia
Harriet Koorts
Deakin University, Australia
Eun-Young Lee
Queen’s University, Canada
Jacqueline L. Mair
Singapore-ETH Centre, Singapore
Scherezade K. Mama
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Josef Mitáš
Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Rowena Naidoo
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Kwok Ng
University of Limerick, Ireland; University of Turku, Finland; and Lithuanian Sports University, Lithuania
Kat Owen
University of Sydney, Australia
Adewale L. Oyeyemi
Arizona State University, USA, and Redeemer’s University, Nigeria
Rodrigo Reis
Washington University in St. Louis, USA
Luiza Ricardo
University of Cambridge, UK
Miguel Adriano Sanchez-Lastra
University of Vigo, Spain, and Galicia-Sur Health Research Institute, Spain
Katja Siefken
MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany
Danilo Silva
Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Brazil
Tessa Strain
University of Edinburgh, UK
Rafael Tassitano
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Anne Tiedemann
University of Sydney, Australia
Assistant Editor
Emily Cox, University of Newcastle, Australia
Editorial Administrator
Ruth Brady, University of Queensland, Australia
Editorial Board
Elroy Aguiar, The University of Alabama, USA
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, Universidad de La Frontera, Chile
Susan Aguiñaga, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Matthew Ahmadi, University of Sydney, Australia
Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, Lifestyle and Health Research Center, Saudi Arabia, and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
Noara Alhusseini, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia
Jaime Barratt, Brock University, Canada
David R. Bassett, Jr., University of Tennessee, USA
Matthew Bourke, The University of Queensland, Australia
Denver Brown, Kansas State University, USA
Ryan D. Burns, University of Utah, USA
Johannes Carl, Deakin University, Australia
Seb Chastin, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK, and Ghent University, Belgium
Josephine Chau, Macquarie University, Australia
Hayley Christian, University of Western Australia, Australia
Anne H. Y. Chu, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dylan Cliff, University of Wollongong, Australia
Pieter Coenen, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands
Emily Cox, University of Newcastle, Australia
Knut Eirik Dalene, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
Mitch J. Duncan, University of Newcastle, Australia
Stephanie Duncombe, University of Queensland, Australia
Ulf Ekelund, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Norway, and Norwegian Public Health Institute, Norway
Kelly R. Evenson, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, USA
Stuart J. Fairclough, Edge Hill University, UK
Vahid Farrahi, University of Oulu, Finland, and TU Dortmund University, Germany
Guy Faulkner, University of British Columbia, Canada
Lawrence Foweather, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Aleš Gába, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Klaus Gebel, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Shifalika Goenka, Public Health Foundation of India, India
Silvia A. González, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Nidhi Gupta, The National Research Center for the Work Environment, Denmark
Erica Hinckson, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Adriano Akira Hino, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil
Justin Jeon, Yonsei University, South Korea
Alfonso Jimenez, King Juan Carlos University, Spain
Laura Joensuu, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Masamitsu Kamada, University of Tokyo, Japan
Piyawat Katewongsa, Mahidol University, Thailand
Shelby A. Keye, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Nicholas Kuzik, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Canada
Pazit Levinger, National Ageing Research Institute, Australia
Rodrigo A. Lima, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Spain
Fiona Chun Man Ling, NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration South Tees, Middlesbrough Council, UK
David Lubans, University of Newcastle, Australia, and University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Mengyun (Susan) Luo, University of Sydney, Australia
Heather Macdonald, University of British Columbia, Canada
Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University, USA, and Houston Methodist Research Institute, USA
Taru Manyanga, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada
Sven Messing, University of Limerick, Ireland, and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Lisa Micklesfield, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Johan Ng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Binh Nguyen, University of Sydney, Australia
Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu, University of the West of England, UK
Angélica Ochoa Avilés, Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador
Anthony Okely, University of Wollongong, Australia
Jenna Panter, University of Cambridge, UK
Lilian G. Perez, National Institutes of Health, USA
Ronald Plotnikoff, University of Newcastle, Australia
Allison Poulos, Arizona State University, USA
Michael Pratt, University of California San Diego, USA
António Prista, Universidade Pedagógica de Maputo, Mozambique
Andrea Ramírez Varela, UTHealth Science Center at Houston, USA
Erika Rees-Punia, American Cancer Society, USA
Jennifer D. Roberts, University of Maryland, USA
Dori Rosenberg, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, USA
Gemma Ryde, University of Glasgow, UK
Jasper Schipperijn, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Erica Soltero, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Juliana Souza de Oliveira, University of Sydney, Australia, and Gold Coast Health, Australia
Christine W. St. Laurent, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
Afroditi Stathi, University of Birmingham, UK
Kim Straun, University of Bristol, UK
Larkin Strong, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Brendon Stubbs, Kings College London, UK
Michalis Stylianou, University of Queensland, Australia
Antonina Tcymbal, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Sylvia Titze, University of Graz, Austria
Simone Tomaz, University of Stirling, UK
Trish Tucker, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Richard Tyler, Edge Hill University, UK
Joan Úbeda-Colomer, University of Valencia, Spain
Daniel Umpierre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Alexandra Valencia-Peris, University of Valencia, Spain
Carmina Valle, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, USA
Anne Vuillemin, Université Côte d’Azur, France
Lucy-Joy M. Wachira, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Andrea Wendt, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil
André O. Werneck, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Zhiguang Zhang, University of Wollongong, Australia
Statistics & Methodologies Advisory Board
Avinash Chandran, Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, USA
Kar Hau Chong, University of Wollongong, Australia
Philip J. Clare, University of Sydney, Australia
Anne Grunseit, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Asaduzzaman Khan, University of Queensland, Australia
Yuta Nemoto, Tokyo Medical University, Japan, and University of Queensland, Australia
Masataka Taguri, Tokyo Medical University, Japan
Early Career Research Committee
Kim Straun, University of Bristol, UK (Committee lead)
Kar Hau Chong, University of Wollongong, Australia
Juliana Souza de Oliveira, Gold Coast Health, Australia
Anne Tiedemann, University of Sydney, Australia
Andrea Wendt, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil
Social Media Coordinators
Jaime Barratt, Brock University, Canada
Wing (Venisa) Kwok, University of Sydney, Australia
Human Kinetics Staff
Doug Hoepker, Senior Journals Managing Editor
Prior to submission, please carefully read and follow the submission guidelines detailed below. Authors must submit their manuscripts through the journal’s ScholarOne online submission system. To submit, click the button below:
Authorship Guidelines
The Journals Division at Human Kinetics adheres to the criteria for authorship as outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors:
Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content. Authorship credit should be based only on substantial contributions to:
- Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
- Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
- Final approval of the version to be published; AND
- Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Conditions a, b, c, and d must all be met. Individuals who do not meet the above criteria may be listed in the acknowledgments section of the manuscript.
Authors who use artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies (such as Large Language Models [LLMs], chatbots, or image creators) in their work must indicate how they were used in the cover letter and the work itself. These technologies cannot be listed as authors as they are unable to meet all the conditions above, particularly agreeing to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Free Access and Open Access
Human Kinetics is pleased to allow our authors the option of having their articles published Free or Open Access. In order for an article to be published Free or Open Access, authors must complete and return the Request for Open Access form and provide payment for this option. To learn more and request Free and Open Access, please see our Open Access resource page.
Fee for Free Access
- Copyright assigned to Human Kinetics $2,000
- Discounted price for ISPAH members $1,000
Fees for Open Access
- Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license $2,250
- Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license $2,450
- Creative Commons CC-BY license $2,950
Manuscript Guidelines
All Human Kinetics journals require that authors follow our manuscript guidelines in regards to use of copyrighted material, human and animal rights, and conflicts of interest as specified on our author resource page.
JPAH is a peer-reviewed journal. Manuscripts reporting Original Research, Public Health Practice, Technical Notes, Brief Reports, or Reviews will be reviewed by at least two reviewers with expertise in the topical field, and the review process usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. A double-anonymous method is used for the review process, meaning authors and reviewers remain unknown to each other.
All types of manuscripts submitted to JPAH are judged on the following primary criteria: adherence to accepted scientific principles and methods, the significant or novel contribution to research or practice in the field of physical activity, clarity and conciseness of writing, and interest to the readership. There are no page charges to contributors.
Manuscripts generally should not exceed 25 pages (~5,000 words including everything except title and abstract pages, tables, figure legends, and online-only supplementary materials; the word limit includes the reference section). Reviews should not exceed a total of 30 pages and Brief Reports should not exceed 15 pages. Major exceptions to these criteria must be approved through the Editorial Office before submission. Submissions should not include more than 10 tables/graphics, and should follow the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (visit ICMJE for more detail). JPAH welcomes and encourages the submission of supplementary materials to be included with the article. These files are placed online and can be accessed from the JPAH website. Supplemental material can include relevant appendices, tables, details of the methods (e.g., survey instruments), or images. Contact the Editorial Office for approval of any supplemental materials.
Is My Manuscript a Good Fit for JPAH?
JPAH welcomes physical activity research from all cultures, countries, and climates and encourages our editorial leadership, reviewers, authors, and readers to help reduce publication bias based on where we live, work, and play. Read our position statement on publication bias related to research from Majority World (i.e., Global South, low-to-middle income) countries.
For more information on JPAH’s editorial priorities and the type of studies the journal is most interested in publishing, please see this video:
Standardized Publication Reporting Guides
JPAH highly recommends that authors refer to relevant published reporting guidelines for different types of research studies. Examples of reporting guidelines include:
- Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)
- Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE)
- Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
- STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)
- Improving the Quality of Web Surveys: The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES)
- Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist. Authors are required to submit separate TIDieR Checklists for all intervention components that are delivered within a study, including interventions targeted at actors involved in implementation (e.g. parents, partners, teachers, colleagues, peers).
Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word® (*.doc) or rich text (*.rtf) format only. Do not submit a .pdf file. Graphics should be submitted in .tif or .jpg formats only. Before submitting, authors should complete the Manuscript Submission Checklist (see below). Authors may be asked to provide Human Kinetics with photo-ready graphics and/or a hard copy of the text. Authors are responsible for confirming the accuracy of the final copy, particularly the accuracy of references, and to retain a duplicate copy to guard against loss. Final review of the pre-published text is the responsibility of the authors. Authors of manuscripts accepted for publication must transfer copyright to Human Kinetics, as applicable.
Cover Letter
Submissions must include a cover letter stating that the manuscript has not been previously published (except in abstract form), is not presently under consideration by another journal, and will not be submitted to another journal before a final editorial decision from JPAH is rendered. Full names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses of all authors, as well as the full mailing address, telephone number, and fax number of the corresponding author, must be provided. Authors must also provide a statement disclosing any relevant financial interests related to the research.
Manuscript Types
Original Research
A manuscript describing the methods and results of a research study (quantitative or qualitative), including the background and purpose of the study, a detailed description of the research design and methods, clear and comprehensive presentation of results, and discussion of the salient findings.
Public Health Practice
A manuscript describing the development or evaluation of a public health intervention to increase or promote physical activity in a community setting, or a study that describes translation of research to practice.
Technical Note
A short article that presents results related to a new or modified method or instrument related to physical activity measurement or an important experimental observation.
Brief Reports
A short article (15 or fewer pages), usually presenting the preliminary or novel results of an original research study or public health practice program.
Reviews
Manuscripts that succinctly review the scientific literature on a specific topic. Traditional narrative reviews are discouraged. However, well-conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses are highly encouraged. The Editorial Office may recruit reviews on specific topics.
Commentaries
A short text (<1,000 words, excluding references) discussing a relevant topic in the field of physical activity and health. All commentaries will be reviewed by the editorial board prior to publication.
Manuscript Sections
The order of submission must be (1) Title page, (2) Abstract, (3) Text, (4) Acknowledgments, (5) Funding source, (6) References, (7) Tables, (8) Figures/Graphics.
Title Page
The manuscript must include a title page that provides the full title, a brief running head, manuscript type (see definitions above), three to five key words not used in the title of the manuscript, abstract word count, manuscript word count (inclusive of all pages except the abstract and title page), date of manuscript submission, and full names of authors, their institutional or corporate affiliations, and e-mail addresses. The title page should be a separate document from the manuscript and should not be included in the manuscript file.
Abstract
All manuscripts must have a structured abstract of no more than 250 words. Required headings are (1) Background, (2) Methods, (3) Results, and (4) Conclusions.
Text
The entire manuscript must be double-spaced, including the abstract, references, and tables. Line numbers are not needed. A brief running head is to be included on the upper right corner of each page; page numbers must appear on the bottom right corner of each page. The entire manuscript should be anonymized, with all identifying information removed (including university name related to ethical approval of the study and any trial registration or funding source identifiers).
For studies involving human subjects, the Methods section must include statements regarding institutional approval of the protocol and obtaining informed consent. For studies using animals, the Methods section must include a statement regarding institutional approval and compliance with governmental policies and regulations regarding animal welfare.
Acknowledgments
Provide the names, affiliations, and the nature of the contribution for all persons not included as an author who played a critical role in the study.
Funding Source/Trial Registration
Details of all funding sources for the work should be provided (including agency name, grant numbers, etc.). Provide the registry name and registration number for all clinical trials (see JPAH Ethics Policies below).
Correctly anonymized example: “This work was supported by a grant (grant #xxxxx) from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (No. xxxxx).”
References
For reference lists, authors must follow the guidelines found in the American Medical Association Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors (10th ed.). Examples of reference style:
Journal articles: Surname of first author, initials, then surname and initials of each coauthor; title of article (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns), name of the journal (italicized and abbreviated according to style of Index Medicus), year, volume, and inclusive page numbers.
Melby CL, Osterberg K, Resch A, Davy B, Johnson S, Davy K. Effect of carbohydrate ingestion during exercise on post-exercise substrate oxidation and energy intake. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002;12:294–309.
Book references: Author(s) as above, title of book (italicized and all major words capitalized), city and state/province of publication, publisher, and year.
Pearl AJ. The Female Athlete. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics; 1993.
Chapter in an edited book: Same as book references, but add the name of the chapter author(s) and title of chapter (capitalize first word and proper nouns) before the book information and inclusive page numbers.
Perrin DH. The evaluation process in rehabilitation. In: Prentice WE, ed. Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. St Louis, Mo: Mosby Year Book; 1994:253–276.
Tables
Each table must be accompanied by an explanatory title so that it is intelligible without specific reference to the text. Column headings and all units of measure must be labeled clearly within each table; abbreviations and acronyms must be fully explained in the table or footnotes without reference to the text. Tables should be placed in the manuscript file after the References.
Figures/Graphics
Graphics should be prepared with clean, crisp lines, and be camera-ready. For shading, stripe patterns or solids (black and white) are better choices than colors. Graphics created on standard computer programs will be accepted. Graphics should be submitted in .tif or .jpg formats only. Each figure and photo must be properly identified. A hard copy may be requested. If photos are used, they should be black and white, clear, and show good contrast. See our figure guidelines for additional information.
Manuscript Submission Checklist
Before submitting a first or revised manuscript, the following criteria must be met:
- All identifying information related to the authors and funding/registration is removed from the manuscript
- All sections are double-spaced
- Page numbers appear in bottom right corner
- Brief running head appears in upper right corner
- Abstract is formatted and contains fewer than 250 words
- Page count under limit for the manuscript type (15, 25, or 30 pages)
- Fewer than 10 tables/figures
- References are formatted per AMA guidelines
Submitting Author Revisions
Authors often submit their responses to reviewer comments and the modifications in the manuscript in a variety of different ways, making it quite difficult for reviewers and the Senior Associate Editors to review revisions. When submitting a revised manuscript, the author must be certain to answer all reviewer questions, comments, and concerns by including a separate response document in addition to the revised manuscript. The response document should follow the format of the Revision Template, including the reviewer comment, the author response, and the modification made to the revised manuscript (including page and line number). All modifications to the manuscript should be highlighted in yellow. Authors NOT following these guidelines when submitting their revision will have their manuscript rejected from further consideration.
JPAH Ethics Policies
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE) are excellent sources of information regarding misconduct in scientific publication. JPAH ethics policies are modeled after guidance from these three organizations.
Authorship Criteria
As noted earlier, JPAH adheres to the criteria for authorship as outlined by the ICMJE. Each author must provide any relevant information upon request to substantiate their contributions.
Duplicate Publication
All manuscripts must not have been published previously in any format (internet website, journal, newsletter, etc.), with the exception of abstracts presented at scientific meetings.
Trial Registration
JPAH complies with the ICMJE requirement regarding registration of all prospective clinical trial studies prior to subject enrollment (to learn more visit ICMJE Clinical Trials Registration). The ICMJE defines a trial as “any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes.” Health-related interventions include behavioral treatments (e.g., physical activity).
Compliance With NIH Public Access Policy Requirements
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other research funding agencies, require open access of all publications they fund. JPAH and Human Kinetics, Inc., will work with authors on a case-by-case basis to be compliant with NIH Public Access Policy.
Violations of Journal Ethics Policies
Falsification of data, duplicate publication, breach of confidentiality, abuse of research subjects, and so on are considered violations of the ethical conduct of research. JPAH reserves the right to investigate and impart punishment for any such violation. All allegations of potential misconduct will be investigated by the JPAH editorial team, Human Kinetics, Inc., and possibly external experts on a case-by-case basis and final decisions will be agreed upon by the Editors in consultation with the JPAH Editorial Board and guided by the COPE, ICMJE, and CSE standards.
Submit a Manuscript
Articles are to be submitted electronically via ScholarOne (see submission button at the top of this page). First-time authors will create an account by following the directions on the ScholarOne page. Authors will be asked to submit an anonymized version of their article and a separate cover sheet with names, institutional affiliations, and contact information.
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The Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy
Overview
Peer review is essential to ensuring the standards and legitimacy of scientific research.1 For those who have recently begun their careers as researchers, gaining experience while building confidence as a competent peer reviewer can be a challenging and overwhelming prospect. Thus, the Journal of Physical Activity & Health (JPAH) and the International Society for Physical Activity & Health (ISPAH) created the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy—a mentor-driven program designed to elevate the skills for scientific manuscript peer review among early career researchers.
Graduates of the Academy will become more proficient at peer review through hands-on experience with manuscripts submitted to JPAH. Working in a one-on-one partnership with a mentor who has considerable experience as a peer reviewer, Academy participants will be trained in deliberating the ethical, scientific, and practical considerations of peer review. This will include learning how to properly consider a peer-review invitation, evaluating the scientific merit of a manuscript, and writing a constructive reviewer’s report. It is anticipated that Academy graduates will value and subsequently share these skills with colleagues.
Participants will be matched with a senior peer-review mentor with aligned research interests and, over the course of a one-year period, will work with the mentor to review at least two manuscripts submitted to JPAH. Academy participants who successfully complete the program will be formally recognized on the ISPAH and JPAH websites as Peer Review Academy Graduates, as well as being celebrated on ISPAH and JPAH social media accounts and honored at the next ISPAH Congress.
“Quality peer review is one of many things that isn’t taught routinely in graduate school,” said JPAH Editor Emeritus and ISPAH Fellow Harold W. (Bill) Kohl. “This Peer Review Academy is a fantastic opportunity for early career researchers who desire additional training as peer reviewers. We encourage those who are eager to participate as peer reviewers but have had insufficient experience to consider this educational opportunity.”
“Building capacity in the next generation of researchers is a key part of ISPAH’s mission and a focus of our Early Career Network,” said ISPAH President Karen Milton. “This Academy will provide meaningful training that will develop the next generation of peer reviewers and impove the research being published by a global community of scholars.”
Criteria
Academy participants should be recent PhD graduates (within four years) or nearing completion of their PhD in a physical activity-related field, and active researchers. Prior experience as a peer reviewer for JPAH or other journals is not required. Prior experience as a published author in JPAH or similar journals is beneficial. Although ISPAH membership is not required for application, all selected Academy participants must be active ISPAH members during their time in the program. Membership discounts are available for students and professionals from low- and middle-income countries in accordance with World Bank classifications.
Participants must be able to commit to 12 months of training and be available to consistently and effectively engage with their mentor and JPAH Editors to complete the peer review process for a minimum of two manuscripts as a peer reviewer for JPAH. Early career researchers from all cultures, countries, and climates are encouraged to apply. Participation will be limited to six Academy participants during the first year of the program.
Benefits
Participation in the Academy is an excellent educational opportunity to enhance and promote your professional profile. In addition to one-on-one mentoring and skill development as a peer reviewer, Academy participants will receive exclusive access to the members area of the ISPAH website, full access to publications in JPAH, priority booking onto ISPAH courses and exclusive webinars, and discounted registration at the biennial ISPAH Congress.
Completing the training is a great first step to additional engagement with JPAH’s Editorial Board and ISPAH’s various networks and councils. All participants who successfully complete Academy training will be formally recognised as a Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy Graduate, which can be noted on a CV.
References
1 Ding D, Hallal PC, DiPietro L, Kohl HW. A quick guide for becoming a better peer reviewer. J Phys Act Health. 2023;20(11):989–992. doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0328
To Apply
Applications are currently open for the next Academy until June 15, 2025. Please visit the ISPAH website to apply.
About the Name of the Academy
On January 7, 2024, Harold W. (Bill) Kohl III passed away. Professor Kohl was JPAH Editor Emeritus (2007-2011), founder and Past-president of ISPAH (2010-2014), and a highly cited researcher who helped to define physical inactivity as a global pandemic through his work with the initial Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group.
His research focused on national and international physical activity surveillance and epidemiology, as well as program development and evaluation studies for the promotion of school-based physical activity for children and adolescents. He was also the co-author of the textbooks Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health and Foundations of Kinesiology. Moreover, Bill Kohl was co-founder of this Peer Review Academy, which launched after his passing.
We recognize Bill’s passion for mentoring the next generation and the importance he placed on teaching peer review skills through the naming of the Academy in his honor.
Meet the Bill Kohl Peer Review Academy Mentors
David R. Bassett, Jr.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
Professor Bassett is a professor emeritus at the University of Tennessee. He is a longtime JPAH Editorial Board member and has served on the steering committee of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan. He has over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. His research focuses on measurement of physical activity and energy expenditure, cardiometabolic health benefits of physical activity (especially steps per day), and the relationship between active transportation and public health.
Stuart Biddle
University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Professor Biddle has a long track record of publications and leadership, including being Past-President of the FEPSAC and the ISBNPA. He has published numerous books and over 400 research papers over five decades. He is a highly cited author in both psychology and the sport and exercise sciences. He specialises in research addressing behavioural issues of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, including behaviour change and mental health.
Loretta DiPietro
George Washington University, USA
Professor DiPietro is JPAH Editor Emerita and a widely published researcher whose work builds bridges between population-based public health and the clinical and physiological domains of exercise science, with particular interest in the role of physical activity in the health of older adults. During her nine-year tenure as JPAH Editor, she oversaw the peer review process for thousands of articles.
Ulf Ekelund
Norwegian School of Sports Sciences; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
Professor Ekelund is a longtime JPAH Editorial Board member and former member of ISPAH’s Executive Committee whose has published more than 425 original publications. His highly cited research focuses on physical activity and sedentary time; patterns and trends in population levels of physical activity; the role of sedentary time and physical activity in preventing chronic diseases; and early life determinants of physical activity behaviour and its interaction with health outcomes across the life course.
Sjaan Gomersall
The University of Queensland, Australia
Associate Professor Gomersall is Associate Director of the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation, President-Elect of ISPAH, and Co-Lead for the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity’s Physical Activity in Healthcare Special Interest Group. Her research is concerned with understanding, measuring, and influencing physical activity and sedentary behaviour using a variety of methods and with a range of populations, with a focus on adults and the prevention and management of chronic disease.
Estelle V. (Vicki) Lambert
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Professor Emerita Lambert served on the ISPAH Executive Committee (2012-2016) and as a JPAH Senior Associate Editor. She has worked extensively with the WHO and AFPAN. As an author on >263 peer-reviewed publications, her research focuses on the burden of disease and epidemiology; aetiology and mechanisms of health effects/benefits; and correlates/determinants associated with physical activity across the life-course, including environmental determinants and environmental and behaviour change interventions.
Jasper Schipperijn
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Professor Schipperijn is ISPAH Past-president and serves on the JPAH Editorial Board. He has published >150 peer-reviewed articles. His research interests revolve around three main topics: 1) the health benefits of playgrounds, 2) conducting multi-disciplinary intervention studies to create active living environments, and 3) developing tools and methods that make it possible to measure active living and the environment it takes place in.
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Journal of Physical Activity and Health Article of the Year Awards
Each year, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH) presents its Article of the Year Awards to the most outstanding research and perspectives published in the previous volume of the journal. JPAH does this to publicly acknowledge leading research within our physical activity and health community and reinforce its essential role in advancing the field and inspiring the next generation of researchers. Awards are given in a variety of categories, which reflects the journal’s mission to publish high-quality, impactful research that addresses critical evidence gaps worldwide in the science, practice, and policy of physical activity.
For more information on the selection and voting process, see this Editorial. Award-winning articles are recognized below, on social media, and at the ISPAH Conference, and winning articles are made permanently free access so they are accessible to read.
2024 Article of the Year Award Winners
Best Observational Study
Award Winner:
“Heat-Resilient Schoolyards: Relations Between Temperature, Shade, and Physical Activity of Children During Recess”
Kevin Lanza, Melody Alcazar, Casey P. Durand, Deborah Salvo, Umberto Villa, and Harold W. Kohl III
doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0405
Shortlisted articles:
“The Socioeconomic Paradox of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Europe”
Judges for Best Observational Study: Denver Brown (Kansas State University, USA), Ryan D. Burns (University of Utah, USA), Allison Poulos (Arizona State University, USA), Sylvia Titze (University of Graz, Austria), Daniel Umpierre (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
Best Review Article
Award winner:
“Questionnaires Measuring 24-Hour Movement Behaviors in Childhood and Adolescence: Content Description and Measurement Properties—A Systematic Review”
Bruno Rodrigues, Jorge Encantado, Eliana Carraça, João Martins, Adilson Marques, Luís Lopes, Eduarda Sousa-Sá, Dylan Cliff, Romeu Mendes, and Rute Santos
doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0399
Shortlisted articles:
“Effect of Elite Sport on Physical Activity Practice in the General Population: A Systematic Review”
Judges for Best Review Article: Matthew Ahmadi (University of Sydney, Australia), Pieter Coenen (Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands), Kelly R. Evenson (University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, USA), Johan Ng (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong), Trish Tucker (University of Western Ontario, Canada).
Best Intervention, Policy, or Advocacy Article
Award winner:
“Advocating for Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: Challenges and Support Requirements”
Joey Murphy, Karen Milton, Matthew Mclaughlin, Trevor Shilton, Gabriella M. McLoughlin, Lindsey J. Reece, Jacqueline L. Mair, Artur Direito, Katharina E. Kariippanon, Kelly J. Mackenzie, Myrto F. Mavilidi, Erin M. Shellington, Masamitsu Kamada, Leonie Heron, Edtna Jauregui, Chalchisa Abdeta, Ilaria Pina, Ryan Pinto, and Rachel Sutherland
doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0357
Shortlisted articles:
“Awareness and Knowledge of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition”
Judges for Best Intervention, Policy, or Advocacy Article: Hayley Christian (University of Western Australia, Australia), Adriano Akira Hino (Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil), Sven Messing (University of Limerick, Ireland, and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany), Larkin Strong (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA), Anne Vuillemin (Université Côte d’Azur, France)
Best Article from Low- to Middle-Income Country Researchers
Award winner:
“Association of Early Sports Participation With Sedentary Behavior in Community-Dwelling Adults—The Role of Sociodemographic Factors in a Retrospective Epidemiological Study”
William R. Tebar, Luan O. Borges, Leandro D. Delfino, Jorge Mota, Raphael M. Ritti-Dias, and Diego G.D. Christofaro
doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2022-0540
Shortlisted articles:
“Does Physical Fitness Relate to Academic Achievement in High School Students?”
Judges for Best Article from Low- to Middle-Income Country Researchers: Kar Hau Chong (University of Wollongong, Australia), Silvia A. González (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia), Mengyun (Susan) Luo (University of Sydney, Australia), Rodrigo Reis (Washington University in St. Louis, USA), Lucy-Joy M. Wachira (Kenyatta University, Kenya)
Best Commentary
Award winner:
“Unmasking the Political Power of Physical Activity Research: Harnessing the “Apolitical-Ness” as a Catalyst for Addressing the Challenges of Our Time”
Eun-Young Lee and Mark S. Tremblay
doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0280
Shortlisted articles:
“The Physical Activity Policy to Practice Disconnect”
“Moving Toward the Inclusion of Step-Based Metrics in Physical Activity Guidelines and Surveillance”
Judges for Best Commentary: Anne Grunseit (University of Technology Sydney, Australia), David Lubans (University of Newcastle, Australia, and University of Jyväskylä, Finland), Afroditi Stathi (University of Birmingham, UK), Simone Tomaz (University of Stirling, UK), Antonina Tcymbal (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)
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