Lifestyle Research Team
The Lifestyle Research Team, under the direction Dr. Robert Petrella (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Dawn Gill (Research Manager & Scientist), focuses on community-based studies of lifestyle interventions for chronic disease prevention, management and control. This research is dedicated to furthering multi- and inter-disciplinary research on aging, physical activity, lifestyle management, chronic diseases, and innovative technologies to improve the quality of life of Canadians across their lifespan. Dr. Robert Petrella is currently the Head (Chair) of the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, while maintaining this active research program within the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University (as Professor Emeritus).
PREVIOUS PROJECTS
HealtheSteps™
The HealtheSteps™ lifestyle prescription program to improve physical activity and modifiable risk factors for chronic disease
The HealtheSteps™ Lifestyle Prescription Program was developed by Dr. Robert Petrella and his team at Western University. HealtheSteps™ was created in response to the growing need for a practical, evidence-based tool to address the growing epidemic of chronic disease. A randomized controlled trial funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada and leading industry partners found that participants in HealtheSteps™ increased their step counts, decreased sitting time, and improved their overall diet.
