Dr Natalie Pearson graduated from Loughborough University Bachelor of Science programme in Sport and Exercise Sciences in 2004. She then went on to obtain master's (2005) and doctoral (2010) degrees at Loughborough University in the area of physical activity and health with a focus on behavioural nutrition and physical activity in young people and families. During her PhD, Dr Pearson spent time at Deakin University, Melbourne, where she conducted part of her doctoral research.
Following her PhD, Dr Pearson worked as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Deakin University, Melbourne (2010-2011) and was appointed as Research Associate in the School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences at Loughborough University in 2011. In March 2023, Dr Pearson became a Senior Lecturer in the area of Behavioural Epidemiology and Public Health.
Dr Pearson actively researches a range of issues related to the systemic factors influencing the nutrition, eating behaviours, physical activity, and sedentary behaviours of children and adolescents. Dr Pearson’s research focuses on behavioural, social, and environmental factors and systems that influence children’s and adolescents’ eating behaviours, sedentary behaviours, and physical activity. Her research particularly focuses on how these health behaviours co-exist, with a focus on understanding the systems that the behaviours operate in, and on informing equitable behaviour change and intervention design. Dr Pearson has significant expertise in systematic reviews and meta-analyses as a means of summarising evidence.
Dr Pearson has expertise in measurement, longitudinal, and intervention study design, behaviour change, systematic reviewing, and meta-analyses. She is also currently conducting research with clinical populations such as children with epilepsy, and in LMICs.
Selected research projects and sources of funding
- Kids FIRST: Development and Feasibility of a Family-based Intervention to Reduce Snacking and Screen Time in Children. Funded by the British Heart Foundation. Dr Natalie Pearson, Dr Emma Haycraft (co-PIs), Professor Stuart Biddle, Sonia McGeorge and Dr Paula Griffiths (2013-16).
- CLAHRC- ‘Move to Teach, Move to Learn’ - A collaborative school based programme to decrease sedentary time in primary school students. Funded by CLAHRC, NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research East Midlands. Dr Lauren Sherar (PI), Dr Natalie Pearson, Dr Stacy Clemes, Dr Lorraine Cale, Dr Charlotte Edwardson, Dr Chris Glazebrook, Dr Deidre Harrington, Professor Stuart Biddle, Professor Kamlesh Khunti (2014-2018).
Member of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2007 – Present).
Associate Editor for International Journal for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Reviewer
Regular reviewer for a number of academic journals including: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Appetite, Public Health Nutrition, British Journal of Nutrition, Journal of Pediatrics, International Journal of Obesity, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Journal of Adolescence, Preventive Medicine, BMC Public Health, Journal of Public Health, Obesity, Obesity Reviews, International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Children & Media, Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
External examiner (PhD/MSc)
University of Oslo, Norway; University of Granada, Spain; University of La Rioja, Spain; Deakin University, Australia; University of Otago, New Zealand; University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.