Physical literacy is a unifying concept that encompasses the physical competence, knowledge and understanding, motivation and confidence for engagement in life-long physical activity. In this study, we conducted a random-effects meta-analysis with meta-regression to examine (a) whether existing interventions were effective in enhancing individual's physical literacy and physical activity engagement, and (b) which factors moderated effectiveness of the interventions. The protocol of the meta-analysis was pre-registered in PROSPERO (Ref: CRD42020213898) on November 22, 2020. Specifically, a comprehensive literature search was conducted, and studies that evaluated any controlled intervention aimed to enhance physical literacy were included. Studies using either randomized or non-randomized designs were included. Intervention effects pertaining to each physical literacy component and activity engagement were pooled using a meta-analytical approach. Using meta-regressions, we investigated if study effects were moderated by characteristics of the interventions. Of the 29 studies included in the analyses, interventions successfully increased: physical competence (k = 18, g = 0.57), knowledge and understanding (k = 13, g = 0.55), motivation and confidence (k = 12, g = 0.44), global physical literacy (k = 27, g = 0.52), and engagement in physical activity (k = 13, g = 0.14). Intervention effects were weaker in school or university settings compared to non-educational settings and a positive bias for studies with smaller samples was found. While these findings were robust, long-term effectiveness of interventions should be further examined, as most included studies only evaluated short-term effects. Systematic approaches for the design and reporting of intervention components are also needed to help researchers design effective and scalable interventions in the future.

The fitness body ideal, disseminated through the culture of fitspiration on social media, is frequently framed as a symbol of health, empowerment, and self-discipline. However, its implications warrant critical scrutiny due to its deep entanglement with body dissatisfaction and psychological distress. Unlike the thin ideal, historically linked to patriarchal oppression through Michel Foucault’s concept of the disciplinary society, the fit ideal introduces a more complex paradox. It simultaneously embodies elements of self-sexualisation and objectification while intertwining ostensibly positive discourses of strength, agency, and self-care with hidden mechanisms of control. This theoretical analysis explores how the fit ideal extends beyond the disciplinary mechanisms of the thin ideal, occupying a dual role that merges empowerment narratives with the pressures of self-optimisation. Through Byung-Chul Han’s conceptualisations of the achievement society and psychopolitics, this paper examines how the ideal of self-improvement fosters self-surveillance, body dissatisfaction, and self-exploitation. The neoliberal logic of self-optimisation, embedded in fitness culture, constructs the body as an ongoing project of enhancement, where failure to maintain the fit ideal becomes an internalised moral shortcoming. This relentless pursuit of bodily perfection may lead to cycles of exhaustion, anxiety, and, ultimately, burnout, as individuals strive to meet ever-escalating standards of self-discipline and productivity. Reclaiming the female body and embodied experiences necessitates a critical interrogation of these ideals and their intersections with neoliberal selfhood, consumer culture, and the commodification of feminism. By interrogating the power dynamics that sustain these ideals, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of how contemporary fitness culture simultaneously engages feminist empowerment discourses while reinforcing the relentless pursuit of self-optimisation in the 21st century. Recognising and challenging these structures is essential to disrupting the insidious forms of control that masquerade as agency and empowerment.

This paper critiques dominant Western paradigms in sport and wellbeing, which often instrumentalise the body through optimisation logics. It posits ancient Chinese bodily philosophy, grounded in Taoist cosmology and an embodied ontology, as a vital alternative. This tradition views the body not as a separate entity but as a relational process inseparable from the cosmos (Tao), realised through ecological attunement and lived experience. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Qi Gong serve as practical expressions, cultivating holistic well-being through internal integrity, ecological embeddedness, and social synchrony. Resonating with contemporary posthumanism and body ecology, this perspective advocates shifting focus from performance metrics towards harmony, ethical responsiveness, and cosmological participation, offering resources for reimagining embodiment amidst planetary and spiritual crises. Cet article critique les paradigmes occidentaux dominants dans le sport et le bien-être, qui instrumentalisent souvent le corps via des logiques d'optimisation. Il avance la philosophie corporelle chinoise ancienne, ancrée dans la cosmologie taoïste et une ontologie incarnée, comme une alternative essentielle. Cette tradition conçoit le corps non comme une entité séparée mais comme un processus relationnel inséparable du cosmos (Tao), réalisé par l'accord écologique et l'expérience vécue. La Médecine Traditionnelle Chinoise (MTC) et le Qi Gong en sont des expressions pratiques, cultivant un bien-être holistique par l'intégrité interne, l'ancrage écologique et la synchronie sociale. En résonance avec le posthumanisme contemporain et l'écologie corporelle, cette perspective préconise de déplacer l'accent des indicateurs de performance vers l'harmonie, la responsivité éthique et la participation cosmologique. Elle offre ainsi des ressources pour réimaginer l'expérience incarnée face aux crises planétaires et spirituelles.

Physical activity of school-aged children is associated with their cognitions, physical and psychological health and well-being. Accurate and meaningful assessment of both the quantity and quality of physical activity within different school environments is a complex yet important task for both research and surveillance purposes. This chapter reviews prominent digital methods for the assessment of physical activity quantity and quality and discusses their respective advantages and potential shortcomings. While digital technology has improved over the years, the research field is still in need for valid, reliable, and internationally standardised measurement approaches that can be reasonably implemented across diverse school contexts. The latest technology, such as wearable technology and artificial intelligence approaches, may provide promising solutions and are important future directions for the field.

This study examined how female players engage with Honor of Kings (HOK), a mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, focusing on the facilitating and inhibiting factors shaping their participation in this traditionally male-dominated domain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 female players (aged 18–29). The analysis primarily focused on how social factors, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence their gaming experience in HOK. Additionally, thematic analysis was utilized to explore themes related to the experiences of female participation in HOK, societal perceptions of esports, gender biases, and online toxicity. The results indicate that HOK has successfully broadened female participation in esports through social media integration and esthetic appeal. However, traditional cultural norms and masculine gaming culture, manifested in gender discrimination and online harassment, significantly challenge women’s inclusive participation in the esports ecosystem. This study is the first to explore women’s experiences as primary players in mobile esports, providing fresh insights into gender dynamics in esports. The research expands understanding of the relationships between game design, social integration, and cultural barriers in esports participation.