Phillip B. Sparling, Ed.D.

Professor Emeritus

School of Applied Physiology
email: phil.sparling@ap.gatech.edu

 Sparling

Education

  • University of Georgia EdD Exercise Physiology 1979
  • University of Georgia MEd Exercise Physiology 1976
  • Duke University BS Psychology cum laude 1972

Research Interests

With formal academic training in experimental psychology and exercise physiology, Dr. Sparling's early research focused on investigating the relationships among endurance training, resistance training, energy balance, body composition, and cardiorespiratory health. Since the mid-1990s, his research emphasis has been on understanding physical activity and eating patterns as modifiable health behaviors. He has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cape Town Medical School in Cape Town, South Africa, a Visiting Research Professor to the School of Health Sciences at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and a Visiting Senior Scientist to the Division of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. He continues to work on projects involving the translation of evidence-based interventions in physical activity and nutrition to real-world obesity and chronic disease prevention practices.

Select Publications

  • C.M. Blanchard, J. Fisher, P.B. Sparling, E. J. Nehl, R.E. Rhodes, K.S. Courneya & F. Baker. Do ethnicity and gender matter when using the theory of planned behavior to understand fruit and vegetable consumption? Appetite, in press [epub ahead of print].
    Abstract
  • D.O. Dunet, P.B. Sparling, J.C. Hersey, P. Williams-Piehota, M. Hill, C. Hanssen, F. Lawrenz & M. Reyes. A new evaluation tool to obtain practice-based evidence of worksite health promotion programs. Preventing Chronic Disease, October 2008.
    Full Article
  • J.C. Hersey, P. Williams-Piehota, P.B. Sparling, J. Alexander, M. Hill, K.B. Isenberg, A. Rooks & D.O. Dunet. Promising practices in promotion of healthy weight at small and medium-sized U.S. worksites. Preventing Chronic Disease, October 2008.
    Full Article
  • C.M. Blanchard, J. Fisher, P.B. Sparling, E. Nehl, R.E. Rhodes, K.S. Courneya, F. Baker & T Hunt. Ethnicity as a moderator of the theory of planned behavior and physical activity in college students. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 78 (5): 531-541, December 2007.
    Abstract
  • P.B. Sparling. Obesity on campus. Preventing Chronic Disease, July 2007.
    Full Article
  • P.B. Sparling. Lost in translation: evidence-based interventions in physical activity and nutrition. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 33 (8): 44-46, August 2005.
    Full Article
  • P.B. Sparling. The walkable campus. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 51 (29): B31, March 25, 2005
  • P.B. Sparling. Are wellness/fitness programs benefiting participants’ movement and mobility in daily life? Quest, 57 (1): 162-170, February 2005.
    Abstract
  • A. Dietrich & P.B. Sparling. Endurance exercise selectively impairs prefrontal-dependent cognition. Brain and Cognition, 55: 516-524, 2004.
    Abstract
  • P.B. Sparling, A. Giuffrida, D. Piomelli, L. Rosskopf & A. Dietrich. Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system. NeuroReport, 14 (17): 2209-2211, 2003.
    Abstract
  • P.B. Sparling. College physical education: an unrecognized agent of change in combating inactivity-related diseases. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 46 (4): 579-587, autumn 2003.
    Abstract
  • PB Sparling & TK Snow. Physical activity patterns in recent college alumni. Research Quarterly in Exercise and Sport 73 (2): 200-205, 2002.
    Abstract
  • E Leslie, PB Sparling, & N Owen. University campus settings and the promotion of physical activity in young adults: lessons from research in Australia and the USA. Health Education 101 (3): 116-125, 2001.
    Abstract
  • PB Sparling, N Owen, EV Lambert, & WL Haskell. Promoting physical activity: the new imperative for public health. Health Education Research 15 (3): 367-76, 2000.
    Abstract

Curriculum Vita

For additional information on Dr. Sparling’s professional history and refereed publications see his condensed CV at: http://myprofile.cos.com/philsparling

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