Current
Lab Members
Vivian Poon
Eric de Sa
(Jason) Xin
Nie
Jasmine Lee
Shannon Smyth
Katrena
Pankew
Past
Lab Members
Elmira Raeifar
Dr.
Ardern is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and
Health Science at York University (Toronto, Canada). Dr. Ardern
completed his Ph.D. work in physical activity epidemiology
(Queen’s University, 2006) where he focused on modeling the
impact of therapeutic lifestyle change on high-risk subgroups of the
population. His 5 year research plan is to i) assess the interaction
between individual level risk factors and the social and physical
environment on physical activity behaviours in ethnically diverse
communities at high-risk for chronic disease; ii) investigate
the value added by the incorporation of anthropometric and physical
activity assessments into current chronic disease risk algorithms; iii)
develop a methodology for the geospatial analysis of chronic disease
outcome and risk factor clustering for targeted intervention, and; iv)
assess sex and gender variation in the utility of current risk
algorithms in the prediction of chronic disease, healthcare
utilization, and behavioural interventions. Dr.
Ardern’s work is currently funded by the Public Health Agency
of Canada.
As a new faculty member he has been a participant in the Canadian Obesity Network bootcamp (Duschenay, QC) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Physical Activity and Public Health short course, CIHR review panel member, UK Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada ad hoc reviewer, Gender, Sex, and Health Strategic Planning workshop participant, and advisory committee member to Canadian Mental Health Association’s Minding Our Bodies: Physical Activity for Mental Health program (www.mindingourbodies.ca).
Dr. Ardern is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the Canadian Obesity Network, The Obesity Society, the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, and the Canadian Society of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Dr. Ardern is a member of the Steering Committee for the Jane-Finch Caring Village Promoting Excellence mentoring program (Jane Finch Caring Village). He is also currently a member of the local organizing committee for the 3rd International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health (www.cflri.ca/icpaph) and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (www.csep.ca/conferences).
Thesis:
Longitudinal Path of
Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors: The Coronary Artery Risk Development
in Young Adults (CARDIA) study
Vivian Poon earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from York
University in Kinesiology & Health Science and is currently in
her second year of a Master of Science degree under the supervision of
Dr. Chris Ardern. Her research interests include the
epidemiology of obesity, physical activity, fitness, cardio-metabolic
conditions, and social determinants of health. Her thesis
work, entitled “Longitudinal Path of Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Factors: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA)
study”, will aim to determine a character profile for those
most at risk of developing metabolic syndrome in order to provide
insight into the development of effective intervention methods that can
be incorporated at critical transitions throughout early and
middle-adulthood.
Vivian is a Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Certified
Personal Trainer. At the 2009 CSEP Conference - Ideas
Crossing Boundaries, she was the winner of the inaugural Health and
Fitness Program award (CPT) for her research entitled
“Physical Activity and Healthcare Utilization among Older
Adults”. Vivian was also the winner of the Masters' (oral)
presentation award at the 2nd Canadian Obesity Student Meeting in
Ottawa, 2010. Vivian is currently employed as an analyst with the
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). She was the
vice-chair of the Canadian Obesity Network: Students and New
Professional - York University Chapter, and a prominent member of the
Graduate Research Association for Students in Public Health (GRASP) at
York University.
Thesis:
The association of built environment with leisure-time and
transport-related physical activity and chronic disease
Eric has work previously in the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program clinic as a research assistant at the Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He held the position of Academic Affairs Officer for the Graduate Research Association for Students in Public Health (GRASP) and Financial Director for the York Chapter of the Canadian Obesity Network – Student and New Professionals (CON-SNP) organizations.
Thesis: The effect of obesity
and physical activity on cardiometabolic health risks in East Asian
sub-groups in Canada
Jason Xin Nie is a second year Masters student with Dr.
Ardern. He obtained his B.Sc (Honors) at the University of
Toronto with a double major in Life Sciences and Bioethics.
Jason's thesis will examine the effect of obesity and physical activity
on cardiometabolic health risks in East Asian sub-groups in Canada.
Prior to starting his Masters degree, Jason worked at the Primary Care
Research Unit (PCRU), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and at the
University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB).
Currently, Jason is the Chair of the Canadian Obesity Network: Students
and New Professional - York University Chapter (CON-SNP). Previously,
he was the co-communications director of the CON-SNP, and the
vice-president of the Graduate Research Association for Students in
Public Health (GRASP) at York University.
Thesis: TBD
Jasmine obtained her
Bachelors of Science Degree (Honors) in
Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University. Her
research interests include epidemiology of metabolic syndrome, physical
activity, obesity, and chronic diseases. Jasmine has an
extensive background in the field of health and fitness, having
obtained her CPT and has work experience in the commercial fitness
industry.
She has also worked in multidisciplinary clinical settings specializing
in weight loss and exercise therapy. Her lab background involves work
at the York University Centre for Vision Research under the direction
of Dr. D. Henriques and also in Dr. H. Tamim’s study on Tai
Chi for older adults. She is also a member of the Canadian
Obesity Network – Student and New Professional and the
Graduate Research Association for Students in Public Health (GRASP) at
York University.
Thesis: TBDShannon Smyth received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology & Health Studies from Queen’s University, where she was also a member of the Queen’s Golden Gaels women’s hockey team. She is a first year student in the REACH lab with research interests in the epidemiology of obesity, type II diabetes, and cardio-metabolic conditions among older adults.
At Queen’s, Shannon was a member of the Mostly Muscle program which ran out of the Kingston YMCA with the goal of increasing muscle mass for people over fifty-five years of age. She was also greatly involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston in running various programs and events. Shannon is the Co-communications Director of the Canadian Obesity Network – Student and New Professional at York University and a member of the Graduate Research Association for Students in Public Health (GRASP).
Thesis:
Effect of Weight Cycling
on Body Composition, Morbidity, and Mortality
Elmira Raeifar earned her
undergraduate degree at York University where
she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health
Science. Her Masters degree was also completed at York University under
the supervision of Dr. Chris Ardern.
Elmira is interested in the assessment of the impact of lifestyle
modification on population and public health and the role of lifestyle
factors in prediction of chronic diseases (Cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, and cancer) and mortality. Her masters’ thesis
research, “Effect of Weight Cycling on Body Composition,
Morbidity, and Mortality” examined the influence of weight
cycling on quantitatively assessed body composition and subsequent
health risk; she investigated the relationship between whole body fat
percentage, BMI and central adiposity in postmenopausal women with a
history of weight cycling and estimated the dose-response association
between weight cycling, BMI, chronic diseases and mortality in a large
sample of postmenopausal women (The Women's Health Initiative -
Observational study).
During her academic work was also involved as the V.P. of Finance and
Administration
at the Canadian Obesity Network: Students and New Professional
(CON-SNP) - York University Chapter. Presently, Elmira is employed by
the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and has joined the SR Clearinghouse
Systematic Review team.
CONFERENCE
ABSTRACTS
Raeifar, E., Ardern, Chris I.The Impact of Sedentary Activity on Weight
Management Among a Sample of Post-menopausal Women. International
Congress of Physical Activity and Public Health, Toronto (May 7, 2010).
Ardern, C.I., Raeifar, E., and Kuk, J.L. Comparison of behavioural
characteristics and mortality risk in postmenopausal women with a
history of successful weight loss maintenance or weight cycling.
Presented at the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Vancouver
(November 12, 2009).
Raeifar, E., Kuk, J.L., and Ardern, C.I. Associations Between
Anthropometrics, Adiposity And Mortality In Individuals With A History
Of Weight Cycling. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 41(5)
Supplement. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine,
Seattle, WA (May 27, 2009).
Raeifar, E.,Dogra, S., Baker, J., and Ardern, C.I. Associations between
physical activity, body mass index, and healthcare utilization in
Canadians with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise 40(5): S484. Presented at the American
College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis, IN (May 31, 2008).
