On October 20th, Dr. Mary Jung launched the Small Steps for Big Changes Program, a lifestyle counseling program that can help people make lasting dietary and exercise changes in order to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. This program is housed in the community, at the local YMCA in downtown Kelowna. Watch this video to find out more!
HEPL at the Qualitative Health Research Conference!
HELP’s Kate Weatherson presented at this year’s annual Qualitative Health Research [2016] Conference, hosted by the University of Alberta and held in Kelowna. Selected amongst many candidates, her oral presentation entitled ‘Factors influencing the implementation of a school-based physical activity policy by teachers’, echoed qualitative findings from her Master’s research, under the supervision of Dr. Mary Jung.
Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviour in Group-Based Mentoring
In a recent study, a team of researchers including Dr. Mary Jung, examined various psychosocial variables in predicting physical activity and dietary behavioural changes among female teens. Findings suggest that self-regulated exercise may be enhanced by positive social cognition changes and together, these changes may also improve dietary behaviour, when facilitated by a group-based mentoring program.
mHealth Exercise App & Self-Monitoring of Exercise
As a tool of self-monitoring and exercise adherence, participants with the mHealth app reported higher frequency in self-monitoring, even with constant self-efficacy and perceived self-management of exercise. This pilot study supports social cognitive theory and its role in exercise, as well as suggests a means to increase self-monitoring of exercise – thus, encouraging more theory-based exercise apps.
High-Intensity Interval Training & Intention for Future Exercise
Not enough time to exercise? Shorter, high-intensity interval training was accompanied by a higher intention for future exercise, as a time-efficient form of exercise, in an exciting study on HIIT training and exercise adherence among overweight and sedentary adults, led by the University of South Florida and UBC-O co-author Dr. Jung.
A Review on Strategies to Increase Maternal Calcium Intake
Dr. Jung and co-authors examined five published behavioural intervention strategies, in this systematic review, on increasing calcium intake around pregnancy. This study addresses the current lacking need for increased calcium and behavioural-based intervention strategies during this pivotal time and thus, provides various methods focused on self-efficacy for future research within this field. Read more here.
