Background: In recent years, growing attention has been paid to the lifestyle factors that influence young adults’ well-being. University students represent young adults at risk of Sedentary Behavior (SB) and mental distress. Sport Science students represent a health-conscious population, less prone to mental distress. This study aims to investigate the associations between physical activity (PA) levels, different determinants of quality of life (QoL), orthorexia nervosa (ON) symptoms, and internet use among Sport Science students living in Naples. Methods: An online survey comprising General Data (GD) and eight validated questionnaires was used to assess PA levels, mood, sleep quality, eating habits, and digital behavior in a population of university students enrolled in Sport Science courses at Parthenope University, Naples. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, a Mann–Whitney U Test, frequencies, chi-square tests, and a Spearman’s rank correlation. All the analyses were performed using JASP and Jamovi software. Results: We surveyed 775 students (472 M; 303 F; 22.85 ± 3.85 y; BMI 23.74 ± 3.63 kg/m²). Regarding the MET-min/week, 65% of participants reported being highly active, 28% moderately active, and 7% inactive. Poor sleep quality was reported by 20% of those surveyed. Additionally, 84% of participants declared average internet use, which positively correlated with their emotional profile and sleep quality. High PA levels were directly associated with the presence of ON symptoms in 27% of the participants, most of whom exercised in gyms. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study conducted on a study population of Sport Science University students addressing the complex and interconnected relationships between PA levels, QoL, ON symptoms, and internet use.

Background: Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior have been associated with impaired cognitive function during adolescence. Although classroom-based active breaks (ABs) have shown promising effects in primary school children, evidence among adolescents attending upper secondary schools remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of a four-month classroom-based ABs program on attention and concentration performance and explored whether selected participant and lifestyle-related characteristics moderated the intervention response. Methods: In this cluster-randomized controlled trial, 529 adolescents (302 females, 227 males; 14.3 ± 0.9 years) from 39 classes attending four upper secondary schools in Southern Italy were included. Classes were randomly allocated to the intervention group (IG; 20 classes, n = 288) or control group (CG; 19 classes, n = 241). The IG participated in two daily 10 min classroom-based ABs for four months, whereas the CG followed the usual school routine. At baseline, anthropometric characteristics, sport participation, sleep duration, daily smartphone use, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, and concentration performance (CP score), assessed by the d2-R Test of Attention, were evaluated; only CP was reassessed after the intervention. Results: The primary mixed-effects model showed significantly higher adjusted post-intervention CP in the IG than in the CG (adjusted between-group difference = 56.7 points, 95% CI 21.7–91.6; p = 0.003). The intervention effect remained significant in a fully adjusted model including sex, organized sport participation, sleep duration, smartphone use, and Mediterranean Diet adherence (p = 0.004). Exploratory moderator analyses provided no evidence that the intervention effect differed according to any of these characteristics after correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: A four-month classroom-based ABs program can improve concentration performance among adolescents. High intervention fidelity and student attendance support the feasibility of implementing structured ABs within the school setting over the intervention period. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects and implementation of ABs program in secondary schools.

Background: Aging is characterized by functional decline in different organs and systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 6-month low-to moderate intensity supervised Social Dance (SD) program on muscular fitness, and clinical–biochemical and hematological parameters associated with healthy aging. Circulating CD34+ and serum antioxidant potential were assessed as exploratory outcomes. Methods: Seventy-nine elderly (aged > 65 years) were enrolled and randomized. Analyses included 49 participants who provided baseline and follow-up data and were assigned to the SD group (SDG, n = 24) or control group (CG, n = 25). Clinical–biochemical and hematological profiles, oxidative stress markers, circulating CD34+ cells, Physical fitness components and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaires were assessed at T0 and T1 to both groups. Results: Significant group × time interactions favored the SDG for HDL cholesterol ($p=0.003$), Hemoglobin (p = 0.031), and Hematocrit (p = 0.005). A significant increase in BAP (∆% = 33.3; p < 0.001) and PASE (∆%= 79.6 vs. 56.9; p < 0.05) were observed among the SDG; conversely, only a positive trend (∆% = 12.9 SDG vs. −5.1 CG) was observed for EQ-VAS at T1; these findings were not supported by significant group × time interaction. CD34+ cells increased significantly only in the CG. Isometric muscular performance declined in both groups. Conclusions: a 6-month SD program may provide beneficial effects on selected biochemical markers (i.e., a positive impact on HDL, hematological profile, antioxidant defenses) and perceived health outcomes in the elderly. However, it appears insufficient to preserve isometric muscular performance, suggesting that complementary resistance-based strategies may be needed to optimize neuromuscular adaptations.