Dr. Eli Puterman

Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Health

Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology

In 2018, the Canadian Medical Association Journal devoted a full issue to vulnerable populations, highlighting the health disparities between vulnerable groups and the majority of the Canadian population. Vulnerable children and adults require tailored programs that increase acceptability, uptake and adherence, to effectively sustain health and wellbeing. The goal of Dr. Eli Puterman’s research is to develop and test physical activity programs designed in collaboration with members of vulnerable groups and organizations that serve them. It will focus on novel health and well-being outcomes resulting from changes in physical activity levels following participation in such programs.


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What can we do to encourage people to move more?

Dr. Puterman studies how adversity experienced across the lifespan – starting in childhood all the way through older adulthood – accelerates the aging of our immune system. His research demonstrates that physical activity is a powerful behavioural factor that has the potential to delay immune aging in individuals who experience high degrees of adversity across their lifetimes. Dr. Puterman’s research has repeatedly demonstrated that the impact of adversity on aging and disease development is more pronounced in individuals who are less physically active and significantly reduced or eliminated in those who are more physically active. Dr. Puterman’s research seeks to deepen our understanding of how physical activity promotes biological and psychological resiliency in highly stressed individuals who are most at risk for accelerated immune aging. By identifying how and for whom physical activity leads to psychological and biological benefits, Dr. Puterman’s goal is to develop behaviour change intervention strategies specifically designed for individuals living with high levels of adversity, before disease develops. His research will help to maximize our capacity to improve the health of Canada’s youth and adult populations who are at greatest risk for accelerated immune system aging and disease development.

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