Department of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences

We are excited that EXNS Associate Professors Allison Sylvetsky and Uriyoan Colon-Ramos and recent Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition (EPAN) PhD graduate Jasmine Kaidbey are all invited presenters at the Champions for Healthy Youth Summit, which will take place later this month! https://lnkd.in/dZwuhXte

🧪New Study on Body Composition & Metabolic Flexibility🧪 A recent study from Dr. Matthew Barberio examined how body fat percentage (BF%) influences metabolic flexibility during the postprandial period in healthy young adults. They found that individuals with higher body fat had a greater increase in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and carbohydrate oxidation (CHO) after consuming glucose, indicating greater metabolic flexibility. This may reflect a compensatory adaptation to decreased glucose storage. These insights contribute to understanding metabolic responses in individuals without overt metabolic diseases. #MetabolicHealth #MetabolismResearch #Adiposity #BodyComposition #Metabolism Check out the details here: https://lnkd.in/e_XPvYxR

🎯 Keeping the Fun in Youth Sports: The PlayFit Youth Sport Program 🏀 Adolescents who drop out of sports often cite a lack of fun as a key reason. Addressing this, a recent study from Dr. Amanda J. Visek, PhD, CMPC, FAASP evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of the PlayFit Youth Sport Program, specifically designed to keep youth engaged by aligning with their unique needs and preferences. Led byMatthew A. Ladwig from Purdue University Northwest, this program demonstrates a promising approach to improving the overall experience of youth sports by emphasizing fun and enjoyment through repeated positive experiences. Learn more about our findings here: https://lnkd.in/eNdFB3xy #YouthSports #SportsPsychology #Engagement #PhysicalActivity #SportsProgram #AdolescentHealth #PlayFit #SportDevelopment #PositiveExperience 🏀 ⚽🤸♂️ 🎉

We are thrilled to welcome Caroline Moloney, one of our new Graduate Assistants to the EXNS department! 🎓 Caroline is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Public Health Nutrition and brings valuable experience from her time at The University of South Carolina. Her passion for behavioral and nutritional research focused on chronic disease prevention is truly inspiring. Caroline is also working closely with Gabby Headrick, PhD, MSPH, RDN, furthering her expertise and contributing to groundbreaking research in the field. A standout moment in her journey includes a Maymester in Greece, where she had the unique opportunity to visit one of the world’s five Blue Zones and engage with locals about their health practices. 🌍🍇 We are excited to have Caroline join our team and look forward to the fresh perspectives and enthusiasm she will bring to our department. Welcome aboard, Caroline! #Welcome #PublicHealth #Nutrition #ChronicDiseasePrevention #Research #BlueZones #EXNS #GraduateAssistant

Earlier this week, Dr. Gabby Headrick, PhD, MSPH, RDN took students in her Food Systems in Public Health (EXNS 2122) course on a field trip! What a fun way to expose students to food systems right here in Washington DC! #community #foodsystems #nutrition

Cool study opportunity for those in the DC area!

🚨New Clinical Trial: Metabolic Response & Insulin Sensitivity🚨 Assistant professor Matthew Barberio is launching a non-randomized crossover trial to investigate how reduced insulin sensitivity impacts post-meal metabolic flexibility The George Washington University- Milken Institute School of Public Health. They aim to recruit 50 healthy adults (ages 20-45, 50% female) to study the effects of a high-fat diet on metabolism during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This research will help us understand how insulin sensitivity affects post-meal metabolic and metabolomic flexibility, with a focus on the role of biological sex as a potential moderator. Stay tuned for updates! #ClinicalTrial #Metabolism #InsulinSensitivity #MetabolicHealth Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ejGXBmtQ

🚨 New Publication Alert! 🚨 We are excited that EXNS Associate Professor Allison Sylvetsky and team published findings of their NIH-funded study investigating mother-to-baby transmission of artificial sweeteners in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Check out the paper here:  https://lnkd.in/efnT_QBa. #ResearchExcellence #ArtificialSweeteners #NutritionScience #InfantHealth #EXNS #NIHResearch

🏅Research from Dr. Amanda J. Visek, PhD, CMPC, FAASP on youth sports and the importance of fun in athletic participation has been featured in USA TODAY!🏅 The article highlights how the legendary tennis champion, Andre Agassi, emphasizes the critical role of enjoyment in sports for young athletes—a message that aligns perfectly with Dr. Visek’s work on "FUN MAPS," which details what truly makes sports fun for kids. 🎾😁 Check out the full article to learn more about how focusing on fun can positively impact youth sports! Read the article here #YouthSports #SportScience #FUNMAPS #Research #AndreAgassi #SportPsychology

🏃♂️ Exploring the Gut: A New Approach to Supporting Athlete Health 🥇 Dr. Carmen Ortega-Santos, PhD, RD and colleagues recently published a study on GI complaints, overall wellbeing, and gut microbiota in both recreational and competitive athletes. This research paves the way for designing a novel protein powder enriched with prebiotics to address GI symptoms common in endurance sports, ultimately aiding in better recovery. This study show that adding galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) to whey protein can help alleviate these symptoms. The next step is a larger trial in Phoenix, AZ, under the leadership of Dr. Floris Wardenaar. This trial will dive deeper into how gut microbiota and targeted nutritional interventions can enhance athlete health and performance. Read more about the study here: https://lnkd.in/eG8KNzCr #SportsNutrition #GutHealth #EnduranceSports #AthletePerformance #ClinicalResearch #Prebiotics #ProteinPowder #GutMicrobiota #Recovery 🏃♂️🥇🧬🥤🌱