Investigating the determinants and health benefits of physical activity.

The majority of our research at the Northwestern Health & Exercise Lab focuses on the impact of physical activity on cancer prevention and survivorship, since scholarship has demonstrated added benefits of activity for this population. However, we are also interested in exploring ways to increase physical activity in the general public.

Our overarching aim is to increase the number of people reaching the Centers for Disease Control recommended amount of physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise per week). Unfortunately, over two-thirds of adults do not meet this recommendation. We use a variety of strategies and partner with a broad range of disciplines, physicians, community organizations and members of the general public to accomplish our goals to:

• Encourage people to move more and sit less.
• Help people live longer, healthier and happier lives by spending more time being active.
• Understand the factors that influence physical activity behavior and how to change these factors to increase physical activity participation.
• Understand the mechanisms underlying the health benefits of increasing physical activity and reducing time spent sitting.
• Use innovative methods to design and test physical activity promotion and sedentary behavior reduction interventions with broad reach.
• Translate our research into the real world.