People working in this group:
Photographed above: Pedro Teixeira, Sílvia Coutinho, António Palmeira, Eliana Carraça, Rita Tomás, Marlene Silva, Paulo Vieira, Teresa Santos, Ana Andrade, Miguel Marcelino, Jutta Mata
Where are you or your research group located (Country and institution)?
We are located in Lisbon, Portugal, at the Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH), Technical University of Lisbon. FMH is located on GPS coordinates 38º 42' 18.50' N 9º 15' 06.30' O, 5 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean! You can also type “Faculdade de Motricidade Humana” of Google Maps.
What is something interesting, unique, or unusual about the area in which you live?
The Faculty of Human Kinetics is the largest Portuguese school devoted to Sports and Human Movement Sciences. It includes undergraduate and graduate program in the areas of sports and conditioning*, exercise and health, physical education, special education and rehabilitation, ergonomics, dance, and sports management. It is located in one of the premier sports and recreation parks in Portugal, the Jamor Sports Complex, alongside world class facilities for elite sports in tennis, swimming, rugby, track and field, field hockey, football, and a number of other sports.
How long have you or your research group been involved with ISBNPA?
Our group has been involved with ISBNPA every year, since the first meeting in Seattle! However, we achieved critical mass of participation at the Amsterdam meeting, and have continued very active until today. We look forward to continue to participate in future meetings…
Please briefly describe you or your group's research interests or research focus.
Our research focuses on behavioral and psychosocial aspects of physical activity, nutrition, and obesity/weight control, in intervention and population studies in adults. Key research topics include correlates, moderators, and mediators of i) behavior and behavior change, ii) weight loss and weight maintenance, or iii) positive psychological outcomes in obesity/weight control. Another research focus is the use of Self-Determination Theory to understand and influence motivational and self-regulatory aspects of weight control behaviors, especially physical activity, through effective interventions.
What are some of your group’s current and/or planned projects?
What is your/your group's most interesting recent research finding?
We have recently provided empirical support to the hypothesis that motivational aspects specific to physical activity adherence (e.g. exercise intrinsic motivation) may “spill-over” across behavioral domains and predict improved eating self-regulation during weight control (Mata et al. Health Psych, in press). This finding emerged from a sequence of analysis conducted to identify predictors of successful weight control in pre-menopausal women, in the context of a Self-Determination Theory-based behavioral intervention.
Publications that may be of interest to ISBNPA members.
