Lifestyle Research Team
Dr. Robert Petrella is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Western University, (London, Ontario CANADA), with cross-appointments in Kinesiology and Cardiology. Dr. Petrella is the Medical Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging and is a practising Physician with St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Throughout 2005-2015, Dr. Petrella was the inaugural Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair, as well as Program Leader for the former Aging, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care Program of Lawson Health Research Institute (now referred to as the Parkwood Institute Research Program)
Dr. Petrella's research is focused on lifestyle interventions for chronic disease prevention and management. His research is dedicated to furthering multi- and inter-disciplinary research on lifestyle management, physical activity, chronic diseases, and innovative technologies to improve the lives of all Canadians, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations (i.e., men, older adults, indigenous, and those living in rural and remote regions).
Dr. Petrella’s publications cross disciplines and span topics including lifestyle prescription, healthy aging, real-world rural and remote practice, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mobility, osteoarthritis, men’s health, and eHealth. Dr. Petrella’s research has also led to 2 patents in chronic disease therapy, 5 trademarks, and the development of 2 smartphone apps to extend research reach.
Dissertation/Thesis
A Gender-Sensitized Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Program for Overweight and Obese Male Hockey Fans: Effects on Dietary Behaviours, Ashleigh De Cruz
Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) Pilot Study Protocol: A Gender-Sensitized Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Program for Overweight and Obese Male Hockey Fans, Dawn P. Gill, Wendy Blunt, Ashleigh De Cruz, Brendan Riggin, Kate Hunt, Guangyong Zou, Shannon Sibbald, Karen Danylchuk, Merrick Zwarenstein, Cindy M. Gray, Sally Wyke, Christopher Bunn, and Robert J. Petrella
Exploring men's social support in the Hockey Fans in Training weight loss and healthy lifestyle program, Ryan S. Scott
Lifestyle and Healthy Aging
Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training To Improve Mobility In Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Dawn P. Gill, Michael A. Gregory, John Bocti, and Robert Petrella
Cognitive Changes Following Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training In Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Complaints: The M4 Study, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Dawn P. Gill, Adrian M. Owen, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Vladimir Hachinski, Ryosuke Shigematsu, and Robert Petrella
The Impact Of Blood Pressure Dipping Status On Cognition, Mobility and Cardiovascular Health In Older Adults Following An Exercise Program, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Michael A. Greagory, Dawn P. Gill, Cheri L. McGowan, and Robert Petrella
Multiple-Modality Exercise And Mind-Motor Training To Improve Cardiovascular Health And Fitness In Older Adults At Risk For Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Narlon Cassio Boa Sorte Silva, Micheal A. Gregory, Dawn P. Gill, and Robert Petrella
The Healthy Mind, Healthy Mobility Trial: A Novel Exercise Program For Older Adults, Dawn P. Gill, Michael A. Gregory, Guangyong Zou, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Ryosuke Shigematsu, Vladimir Hachinski, Clara Fitzgerald, and Robert Petrella
Lifestyle and the Power of Sport
Optimization Of The Hockey Fans In Training (Hockey FIT) Weight Loss And Healthy Lifestyle Program For Male Hockey Fans, Wendy Blunt, Dawn P. Gill, Shannon Sibbald, Brendan Riggin, Roseanne Pulford, Ryan Scott, Karen Danylchuk, Cindy M. Gray, Sally Wyke, Christopher Bunn, and Robert Petrella
Hockey Fans in Training: A Pilot Pragmatic 1 Randomized Controlled Trial, Robert Petrella, Dawn P. Gill, Guangyong Zou, Ashleigh De Cruz, Brendan Riggin, Cassandra Bartol, Karen Danylchuk, Kate Hunt, Sally Wyke, Cindy M. Gray, Christopher Bunn, and Merrick Zwarenstein
Lifestyle and Technology
Process Evaluation Of The HealtheSteps™ Lifestyle Prescription Program, Wendy Blunt, Dawn P. Gill, Brendan Riggin, Judith Belle Brown, and Robert Petrella
Lessons Learned In The Implementation Of HealtheSteps: An Evidence-Based Healthy Lifestyle Program, P. Karen Simmavong, Loretta M. Hillier, and Robert Petrella