Name
Sarah Craven
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology
Research Supervisor
Dr. Sarah Purcell
Hometown
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Awards
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
Please describe your research.
In Canada, nearly one-third of adults have obesity, which increases their risk for other chronic diseases. Weight management programs focus on changes to health behaviours such as diet and exercise. Current obesity guidelines recommend personalizing weight management programs to improve long-term health behaviour change. One way to personalize weight management programs may be through personalized dietary intake recommendations from measured resting metabolic rate (RMR). RMR is energy used by the body at rest and accounts for 70% of an individual’s energy use. With advances in mobile health technology, RMR can now be measured using a portable device in a healthcare or home environment. Measuring RMR in weight management programs may also improve one’s knowledge about metabolism. The purpose of my doctoral research is to address knowledge gaps regarding the application of measuring energy expenditure in obesity guidelines, clinical practice, and weight management using energy balance and behaviour change concepts. I want to do work that has a positive impact on people’s lives, and I see the importance my research has in doing that. The goal of my research is to bridge metabolism research with healthcare practice.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I love to learn! I like to ask questions and then systematically design the best way to answer that question, which is what research is all about. I also like to be challenged and grad school certainly challenges you at times, but it’s in overcoming those challenges that you discover new things about yourself. I also want to have a positive impact on the world and I felt doing research in nutrition and health was a way I could do that.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan?
I came to UBCO for my undergraduate degree because I wanted a high-quality university that prioritizes student wellbeing alongside academic excellence. I also wanted a university located in a city that afforded me the opportunities to explore my other interests skiing, hiking, and cycling. This made UBCO the perfect fit! When considering graduate school, I was interested in energy balance, or the relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure and how this can be used to develop targeted, personalized nutrition interventions. This made Dr. Sarah Purcell an excellent fit given her vast experience in nutrition and energy balance research in clinical and non-clinical populations.
Where do you hope your degree will take you next?
After completing my PhD, I would love to lead research that harnesses mixed-methodologies to implement nutrition and energy balance research into practice, and lead initiatives within my academic institution that drive the institutions’ equity, diversity, and inclusion goals for the next generation of equity leaders.
Please share a little bit about yourself.
Sport is a huge part of my life. I love to run, road cycle, downhill ski, do CrossFit and go hiking. I’m also an avid reader and lead a community book club at the Kelowna Downtown Library called Perspectives. The mission of Perspectives is to support inclusive knowledge-sharing practices and cultural competency, thus creating an environment where individuals feel respected and included.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Get involved in different activities and projects on-campus, off-campus, within your faculty, or in a different faculty. Getting involved with activities and projects helps you discover new things you may not have thought you’d like and meet new people. Another key piece of advice is to find mentors. Having mentors allows you to observe their successes and absorb their guidance, and helps raise your beliefs that you too possess the capabilities to mount similar accomplishments.