Dr Sally A. M. Fenton PhD

• 2008 - BSc, Sport and Exercise Sciences (University of Birmingham, UK)
• 2014 - PhD, Sport and Exercise Psychology (University of Birmingham, UK)

Dr. Fenton obtained both her BSc (2008) and PhD (2014) from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham. After completing her PhD, she was appointed to the role of Post-doctoral Research Fellow, and worked jointly across the University of Birmingham and the Dudley NHS Foundation Trust on projects related to physical activity and sedentary behavior change in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since October 2017, Dr. Fenton has worked as a Lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Dr. Fenton currently contributes to several modules within the BSc and MSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Ciara O’Brien (September 2015 – present) – Sedentary behaviour change in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Sophia Brady (September 2018 – present) – Sedentary behaviour and exercise interventions in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Marilyn Poole (June 2019 – present) – Developing an intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in non-ambulant young people with long-term disabilities.

Research interests:

• Measurement of physical activity and sedentary behavior in patient populations
• The determinants and health consequences of physical activity and sedentary behavior in ‘at risk’ populations
• Development and evaluation of theoretically-informed lifestyle interventions to encourage behavior change

Dr. Sally Fenton’s research aims to validate objective measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior (accelerometers and activPALs), subsequently applying them to explore the health consequences and determinants of these behaviours in different populations. To date, she has conducted a series of studies aligned with this theme, among children, older adults, and patient groups – with a recent focus on people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Findings from this research are applied to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of theoretically-informed interventions to encourage physical activity and sedentary behavior change. Currently, Dr. Fenton is involved in several projects that aim to deliver motivation-theory grounded interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among patient populations, including patients awaiting liver transplant, and individuals living with Arthritis.

Recently, Dr. Sally Fenton has worked as part of a team within the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, to provide input and validate policy recommendations for the European Commission on Nutrition and Physical Activity. Specific recommendations relate to physical activity guidelines for youth, adults and special/clinical populations, as well as physical activity for school performance/achievement. She is also a member of the “Sedentary Behaviour Expert Working Group”, contributing to the revision of the UK Chief Medical  Officers update of the 2012 Physical Activity Guidelines.

Dr. Fenton is a member of the European College of Sports Sciences Conference Abstract Review Panel and the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Sports Sciences. She acts as a regular reviewer for various international peer-reviewed journals in the areas of Sport and Exercise Science, Rheumatology and Health Psychology.