:: Research
Meet the individuals whose work with GoKids Boston participants is promoting heathy living locally and beyond.
Jean Wiecha, PhD
Who Am I?
Director, GoKids Boston, and Associate Professor, Dept. of Exercise and Health Science
What Am I Researching?
I study health promotion and chronic disease prevention in children and youth. My projects at GoKids focus on understanding how physical activity, nutrition education, and academic support can improve kids' fitness and health. In another project, I'm studying healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in out of school time settings like afterschool, day care, and camps.
Why Does it Matter?
Kids that have great access to healthy food and physical activity are more likely to eat well and be fit than other kids, so it's important to find ways to make healthy choices easy wherever kids spend their time. This gives them a better chance of entering adulthood without chronic disease. Staying in school is also associated with better health, so helping kids finish high school and encouraging them to go to college through our GoKids programs is also important.
bio | cv | email Jean
Laura L. Hayman, PhD, RN, FAAN
Who Am I ?
Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Nursing, College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Director of Research, GoKids Boston
What Am I Researching?
My primary area of research is primary prevention of obesity and cardiometabolic disease in children and adolescents from diverse populations. At GoKids, my research targets children from the Russell -Boston Public School and involves collaboration with faculty from Exercise & Health Sciences (EHS) and colleagues from Children’s Hospital Boston and is designed to evaluate the effects of a technology mediated exercise training program (exergaming) on children’s levels of physical activity, risk factors for cardiometabolic disease, cardiorespiratory fitness, indices of body composition and self-efficacy/self competence. In another project with EHS, UMass Boston and UMass Medical School colleagues, we are examining how physical activity, nutrition education and academic support can improve indicators of children’s health and fitness.
Why Does it Matter?
Obesity in children and youth has emerged as a major public health challenge. Research designed to promote healthy behaviors early in life, particularly patterns of physical activity and healthy eating, has potential to guide and inform both clinical/high risk and public health approaches to prevention and management of this and other chronic conditions.
bio | cv | email Laura
Jessica Whiteley, PhD
Who Am I?
I was trained in clinical psychology with a specialization in health psychology and behavioral medicine. That means I am able to help people with health behaviors such as becoming more physically active, managing their weight, reducing their stress, quitting smoking, and managing their pain. I also teach students how to work with patients and clients to change these behaviors.
What Am I Researching?
I am researching health behavior change programs, particularly ones that use technology to help people learn healthy behaviors. Right now I have a study at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center for girls between the ages of 11 -13 that helps them learn to eat well and exercise. All of the girls get adult-supervised exercise and some learn more about nutrition from printed materials while others learn about nutrition from a health coach. There is also an Internet component that helps the girls continue healthy habits at home after they leave the Reggie Lewis Center. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health, enrollment and UMass Boston student involvement are ongoing. For more information on the study contact us at iTeen@umb.edu or Find us on Facebook under Boston iTeen. I also am working on a project with Drs. Hayman and Crouter and Children’s Hospital Boston researchers, on EXCEL, a study that tests out the effects of exercising at GoKids for elementary aged children.
Why Does it Matter?
My research matters because many people are at risk for health problems due to unhealthy behaviors such as inactivity, overeating, and smoking. Although people may know that they ‘should’ be healthy they often have trouble finding the time and motivation to do healthy behaviors. My research helps tailor programs to meet people’s needs so they can achieve healthier lifestyles.
bio | cv | email Jessica
Scott Crouter, PhD, FACSM
Who Am I?
Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Health Sciences and Director of the Exercise Science Laboratory
What Am I Researching?
My main area of research involves the measurement of physical activity and energy expenditure using objective monitors such as accelerometers, heart rate monitors, and pedometers with a specific emphasis 1) improving how accelerometers are used to estimate energy expenditure in free-living children and adults and 2) using objective monitors examine associations between physical activity and health issues such as obesity.
Why Does it Matter?
Over the last 20 years obesity has more than doubled in school-aged children and is a serious public health concern along with the emergence of other chronic diseases in children typically only seen in adults. Physical activity plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders, thus having accurate objective estimates of physical activity are crucial to fully understanding the association between physical activity and chronic health disorders.
bio | cv | email Scott
Mario Muñoz, MS, BA
Who Am I?
Lecturer, Dept. of Exercise and Health Science
Doctoral student, Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University
What Am I Researching?
My research interests focus on physical activity and fitness levels in children with motor coordination problems. My current work examines the association between motor coordination problems, particularly Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), fitness levels, and the perception of competence towards physical activity of Hispanic children.
Why Does it Matter?
We need to understand the interactions between the factors that lead to obesity in children. One of those factors is the reduce time of Children’s participation in physical activity. Although it is known that at least six percent of the school-aged population are considered to have some sort of coordination problems, motor coordination problems have been overlooked when studying the causes for lack of participation in physical activity.
Julie Wright, PhD
Who Am I?
Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise and Health Sciences
What Am I Researching?
I study how to design effective self-care programs for children and their parents. The programs I create target cancer prevention behaviors (e.g., healthy diet, regular physical activity, weight management) and are delivered in primary care settings and use computer technology.
Why Does it Matter?
Effective programs for obesity prevention and treatment in childhood can help reduce the risk of cancers in the future and improve the health and quality of life for families today.
email Julie
Additional member of the GoKids Boston Research Team:
Laurie Milliken,
Ph.D., FACSM
