Anna Wasserkampf. Short- and Long-Term Theory-Based Predictors of Physical Activity in Previously Overweight Women. Maastricht: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences [Master, 2012].

Catarina Santos Silva is a PhD student in Physical Activity and Health speciality at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon. She is implementing the project “Physical Activity Promotion in Primary Health Care of the Portuguese National Health Service”, within a pilot project coordinated by the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health, through an individual doctoral scholarship financed by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation. Her current research focuses on the effectiveness of “real world” public health interventions to promote physical activity, particularly on the study of implementation determinants (barriers and facilitators) of such interventions. As a researcher, her path has been highlighted by her participation in several international research projects, funded by the European Commission (EuroFIT, NoHow, EUPAP), regarding the promotion of health behaviours (healthy eating and physical activity). She is a certified nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in High-Performance Training.

Inês Santos is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, and at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Lusófona University, and a researcher at the Research Center in Sports, Physical Education, Exercise and Health (CIDEFES), Lusófona University, and a collaborator at the Self-Regulation in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity (PANO-SR) Research Group, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Dietetics and Nutrition, and a PhD in Physical Activity and Health. She has developed expertise in the area of self-regulation of weight loss maintenance and energy balance-related behaviours (physical activity and eating habits/behaviours). Additionally, her work has contributed to a better understanding of the epidemiology of weight loss attempts in adults across the world. She authored more than 30 international peer-reviewed articles and contributed to more than 40 abstracts/presentations in scientific conferences (Scopus h-index of 9). She has been an investigator in several National and EU projects. Recently, she was the operations coordinator of the NoHoW trial in Portugal (H2020-PHC-2014 SEP-210140063), a multi-centre 2x2 factorial randomised controlled trial investigating an evidence-based digital toolkit for weight loss maintenance in European adults. Currently, she is the coordinator of the Portuguese Weight Control Registry, an ongoing voluntary registry of Portuguese successful weight loss maintainers, and a collaborating partner of the International Weight Control Registry, a multi-centre research project developed to study individuals who succeeded in long-term weight management across the world. Since 2018 she integrates the Communications Committee of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), which is the premier international society for nutrition and physical activity research. In 2019 she was elected Early Career Representative and in 2021 Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee of the ISBNPA.

I am a Senior Researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre, NOVA Medical School, and I am a visiting research fellow at Trinity College Dublin and Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London. I am a member of the Portuguese Behavioral Science COVID-19 Task Force, and of the Executive Committee of the European Health Psychology Society. Before this position, I was a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. I obtained my PhD in Health Psychology from Leiden University, and I am a chartered clinical and health psychologist. My achievements have been recognised by two very prestigious international early career awards from the European Health Psychology Society and International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, as well as by invitations to join important expert commissions, such as the leading team responsible for developing the WHO global digital program for physical activity (B@Healthy B@Mobile mActive). My research focuses on applying health behaviour change theories to develop and evaluate complex digital interventions targeting a range of health behaviours (e.g. physical activity), and in advancing the methods for the development of the science of behaviour change.

Marlene Nunes Silva is the the Director of the National Programme for Physical Activity Promotion of the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health. She is also a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport (FEFD-ULHT) Lisbon, with high record of international scientific publications. She has published more than 65 peer-reviewed articles (Scopus h-index 20; google Schoolar 30), and was a co-author of 4 international books Chapters and 1 national book
She is a clinical psychologist, post-graduated in health promotion, who received her PhD in Exercise and Health in 2010. In the same year, she also received a Young Investigator Award in Sports Sciences. Her research revolves around the field of motivational, self-regulatory, and behavioral predictors of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. The training of health professionals concerning motivational practices, and the development of tools in this regard are additional areas of interest.
She is the Co-PI of PAC-WOMAN (recently funded by FCT), a national project that will test a physical activity behaviour change intervention for post-menopausal breast cancer survivors. On the recent past she worked as the national coordinator of EuroFIT, an European Commission funded project (FP7), and also participated in several other European and FCT-funded projects. Other activities included the presentation of scientific results on numerous international and national scientific conferences and the organization of international symposia. She is a regular reviewer for leading international journals in her field.
Alongside her research activity, Marlene N. Silva is part of several scientific boards such as the doctoral program in Exercise and Health at ULHT University; Advisory board for the development of the national Health Plan 2020-2030; Invited Expert for the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Handbook for mActive, amongst others
She served as supervisor and co-supervisor of several master and PhD theses (1 with an FCT grant). She participates regularly as a discussant in PhD theses committees. She was a co-author of multiple student handbooks and technical reports.
She is also a certified trainer in Health Behaviour Change (CCPFC/RFO-24239/08), who develops, applies and assesses training programs for health and exercise professionals working in health behaviour change. She has been involved in multiple community extension activities (e.g., communitarian health programs at the university, health care units, and football clubs) and knowledge translation activities for the general public (e.g. via regular collaboration with national media channels).

On the 12th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in Ghent, Belgium, Pedro Teixeira officially started his term as President of the Society. He will oversee an Executive Committee of ten people, which also includes António Palmeira, starting a three-year term as Member-at-Large. The mission of the ISBNPA is to stimulate, promote and advocate innovative research and policy in the area of behavioral nutrition and physical activity toward the betterment of human health worldwide. More information HERE.

The PANO research group participated in the 5th International Conference on Self-Determination Theory in Rochester, between June 27-30th. With the purpose of better understanding and engaging human motivation, this conference brings together experts from across the world. Pedro Teixeira presented the keynote lecture “Self-determination theory and motivational interviewing: Where to from here?”. A workshop for healthcare professionals titled “Physical activity, eating behavior, and weight control” was offered by Pedro Teixeira, Marlene Silva, Eliana Carraça and Marta Marques. Additionally, the PoEMA (Promotion of Exercise, Motivation and Autonomy) study was first presented in a free communication by Marlene Silva. More information about this conference HERE.