Dori Rosenberg, PhD, MPH, has conducted extensive research into measuring and intervening on physical activity and sedentary time. Her research incorporates a multi-level and patient-centered perspective to help ensure individuals can be more successful in making healthy lifestyle choices by understanding:
Many people face substantial barriers to engaging in physical activity, so Dr. Rosenberg has examined practical approaches to helping people sit less as an alternative strategy to health promotion. She is currently testing the effects of sitting reduction on cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes through a large randomized controlled trial. In the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) epidemiologic study, she is assessing physical activity and sedentary time with novel devices so she can examine associations with cognitive, functional, and physical resilience. Through this, Dr. Rosenberg is helping to build an evidence base for the health effects of sedentary time.
Dr. Rosenberg also investigates how the built environment—such as parks, open space, and sidewalks—encourages better health. She envisions more outdoor urban and suburban facilities that invite physical activity—and do so inclusively, so that individuals of all ages and abilities can use them. Through her research, she advocates for changes to neighborhood, home, and work environments to support opportunities for physical activity throughout the day.
Dr. Rosenberg currently serves as co-chair of the Physical Activity Special Interest Group at the Society of Behavioral Medicine. She is also affiliate associate professor in the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
Physical activity; sedentary behavior; nutrition; lifestyle interventions; technology applications; built environment
Changing health behaviors including sedentary behavior, physical activity, and nutrition; role of built environment; promoting physical function and mobility; fall prevention; cognitive function
Obesity prevention and control; physical activity and nutrition promotion; role of sedentary behaviors; role of built environment
Preventing further disease, declines in function and disability; self-management; fall prevention
Health behavior change
Rosenberg DE, Rillamas-Sun E, Bellettiere J, LaMonte M, Buchner DM, Di C, Hunt J, Marshall S, Stefanick M, Zhang Y, LaCroix AZ. Accelerometer-measured sedentary patterns are associated with incident falls in older women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Nov 30. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16923. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Nguyen NH, Vallance JK, Buman MP, Moore MM, Reeves MM, Rosenberg DE, Boyle T, Milton S, Friedenreich CM, English DR, Lynch BM. Effects of a wearable technology-based physical activity intervention on sleep quality in breast cancer survivors: the ACTIVATE Trial. J Cancer Surviv. 2020 Sep 1. doi: 10.1007/s11764-020-00930-7. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Rosenberg D, Walker R, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Bellettiere J, Xiang Y, Richmire K, Higgins M, Wing D, Larson EB, Crane PK, LaCroix AZ. Device-assessed physical activity and sedentary behavior in a community-based cohort of older adults. BMC Public Health. 2020 Aug 18;20(1):1256. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09330-z. PubMed
Marcum ZA, Rosenberg D, Barnes DE, Yaffe K, Larson EB. Engaging patients to design the Systematic Multi-Domain Alzheimer's Risk Reduction Trial (SMARRT) intervention: findings from a web-based survey. J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2020 Jul 23;4(1):255-260. doi: 10.3233/ADR-200210. PubMed
Rosenberg DE, Anderson ML, Renz A, Matson TE, Lee AK, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Arterburn DE, Gardiner PA, Kerr J, McClure JB. Reducing sitting time in obese older adults: the I-STAND randomized controlled trial. J Aging Phys Act. 2020 Jun 4:1-11. doi: 10.1123/japa.2019-0470. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Changing behavior isn’t easy, but Dr. Dori Rosenberg helped older people to stand and walk more.
UW/KPWHRI research team confers with King County organizations at its "Moving to Health" Summit, sparking new collaborations.
Drs. Rosenberg and Wernli lead team with first-hand knowledge of complex conditions and care.
Read it in Healthy Findings.
KPWHRI’s Dr. Dori Rosenberg shares 28 ways to be less sedentary.
Read it in Live Healthy.