Jaci L VanHeest, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Dr. VanHeest received her undergraduate degree from Hope College, Holland Michigan in Physical Education. She completed her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and Ph.D. in Exercise Endocrinology at Michigan State University. Dr. VanHeest completed to post doctoral fellowships; one at the University of Cincinnati in Protein Chemistry and Membrane Transport and the second at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Body Weight Regulation, Obesity and Pediatrics. She currently investigates a before school activity intervention in overweight children, examining the physical, hormonal and metabolic outcomes. In addition, Dr. VanHeest continues to pursue research in the area of bioenergetics, women and performance. She is currently collaborating on research investigating the influence of energy deficiency on reproductive hormone status, metabolic status, bone health and performance.

•Ph.D. Michigan State University, 1993

•M.S. Michigan State University, 1988

•B.A. Hope College, 1984

•NIH Post Doctoral Fellowship University of Cincinnati, 1993

Contact Information: 

Gampel - 204

Phone: (860) 486-5123
Fax: (860) 486-1123

Email: jaci.vanheest@uconn.edu

Mailing Address:
Department of Kinesiology
Neag School of Education
2095 Hillside Road, U-1110
Storrs, CT 06269

Current Courses Taught:

EKIN 384 Children and Exercise

EKIN 384 Body Weight Regulation

EKIN 410 Women and Exercise

EKIN 392 Muscle Physiology

EKIN 263 Anatomical Kinesiology

Honors/Awards:

Graduate Student Research Award, Toronto Diabetes Association, Honorable Mention, May 1994.

Graduate Research Award, Sigma Xi Research Society, Michigan State Univ. Chapter, (dissertation research) April 1993.

Excellence In Teaching Citation, Departmental Nominee, Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science, October 1992

Associations/Committees/Outreach:

PawPALS Program for Overweight Children

GetSSET Sport Science and Technology Program for High School Girls

Harvard Smithsonian SportSmart Project

New Britain General Hospital Institutional Review Board

Neag School of Education Curriculum and Courses Committee

In the News:

Sports Illustrated - PawPALS Program

NBC Nightly News - PawPALS Program

Hartford Courant

NBC30 - Females and Fitness

Areas of Expertise:

Childhood Obesity

Children & Activity

Elite Athletes

Exercise & Women

Exercise and menstrual cycle

Exercise Endocrinology

Selected Publications/Presentations:

17. Volek, J.S., J.L. VanHeest, and C.E. Forsythe. Diet and exercise for weight loss: a review of current issues. Sports Medicine 35(1):1-9, 2005.

1. VanHeest, J.L., C.E. Mahoney, and C.D. Rodgers. Impact of Oral Contraceptive Use on Metabolism and Performance. IOC Exercise Endocrinology (2005).

14. VanHeest, J.L., C.E. Mahoney, and L. Herr. Characteristics of elite open-water swimmers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 18(2):302-305, 2004.

8. DeSouza, M.J., J.L. VanHeest, B. Miller, and W. Lasley. Influence of Chronic Training on Leptin, Thyroid Hormones and Insulin-Like Growth Factors in Women with Luteal Phase Deficiency. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 88:337-346, 2003).

9. Rodgers, C.D., M.M. Barth Noel, P. Zaneteas, J.L. VanHeest. Body Composition in College Division I Football Players. (Journal of Strength and Conditioning 17(2):228-237, 2003).

8. DeSouza, M.J., J.L. VanHeest, B. Miller, and W. Lasley. Influence of Chronic Training on Leptin, Thyroid Hormones and Insulin-Like Growth Factors in Women with Luteal Phase Deficiency. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 88:337-346, 2003).

7. VanHeest, J.L. and J.M. Cappaert. Biomedical Factors Influencing the Development of Sport Skills in Children. Biomedical Engineering Principles in Sports. (Ed: G.K. Hung). New York, New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenium Publishers, 2003.

5. Armstrong, L.E and J.L. VanHeest. The Unknown Mechanism of the Overtraining Syndrome: Clues from Depression and Psychoneuroimmunology. (Sports Medicine [New Zeeland] 32(2):185-209, 2002).

4. Pescatello, L.S. and J.L. VanHeest. Physical Activity Mediates a Healthier Body Weight in the Presence of Obesity. (British Journal of Sports Medicine 34:86-93, 2000).

2. VanHeest, J.L. and C.D. Rodgers. Effects of Exercise Training Prior to, and During Gestation on Maternal Glucose Handling and Offspring Outcome. (American Journal of Physiology 273 (Endocrinology and Metabolism 36):E727-E733, 1997).