Department of Kinesiology

Gregory J. Welk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

	Office: 257 Forker Building
	Phone: 515-294-3583
	Fax: 515-294-8740
	Email: gwelk@iastate.edu
	Other Links: Vita, Website

Research Interests

My research interests focus on various aspects of physical activity epidemiology. Accurate measures of physical activity are needed for a variety of physical activity research areas so a major focus of my work has been on developing and validating better assessments of physical activity. Emphasis in this research is on the development of effective assessment techniques to assess activity patterns in children but applications with adults are also investigated. I have used a variety of devices and instruments including accelerometry-based activity monitors, heart rate monitors, direct observation tools (BEST) and various self report measures. Increasing population levels of physical activity requires a better understanding of the correlates of physical activity and the development of effective interventions that can be disseminated. Most of my work on physical activity promotion has emphasized youth but my interests extend across the lifespan. My work with youth is based on a social-ecological model of physical activity behavior that is specific for youth (Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model – Welk, 1999). Additional work has explored the utility of a psychological model of physical self concept in youth (Children and Youth Physical Self Perception Profile) that assesses perceptions of competence in the physical domain. Work is currently exploring parental influences on physical activity in youth and in the development and evaluation of interventions designed to promote activity in youth. Additional detail on my research interests can be found at my personal home page (www.public.iastate.edu/~gwelk)

Teaching

My main responsibilities for teaching are in the Health Promotion area. I teach two undergraduate courses in the health promotion area ( HS 380 - Worksite Health Promotion and HS 430 - Community Health Program Planning). Students in the Health and Fitness Management option take the HS 380 class as one of their required professional courses. They receive broad based coverage of health promotion program planning and specific experience with the coordination and planning of worksite health promotion programs. Students in the Community Health Education option take both the HS 380 course and the HS 430 course to provide a more extensive background in health promotion planning. The HS 430 course covers a variety of issues involved in community health programming and emphasizes the use of social-ecological models of health promotion. Undergraduate classes have evolved to employ service learning as the primary instructional strategy in order to provide students with more meaningful learning opportunities. At the graduate level, I teach a course on physical activity assessment techniques (EXSP 570 Physical Activity Assessments for Health Related Research).

Service/Outreach/Professional Activity

Dr. Welk has active service activities at the local, state and national level. At the national level, Dr. Welk serves as the Scientific Director of the FITNESSGRAM youth fitness program for the Cooper Institute. A major responsibility with this position is to develop and validate assessment and promotion strategies for use in the software program. I also work with schools and provide training to teachers and districts to improve the quality of physical education programming. At the state level, he serves as an advisor to the Iowa Department of Public Health on the state obesity plan and pilot intervention studies (Iowans Fit for Life). At the local level, Dr. Welk provides leadership to a local health coalition known as the Story County Healthy Lifestyle Taskforce that provides programming and service to the surrounding communities. Dr. Welk is an active member of a number of professional associations including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the Society for Behavior Medicine (SBM), and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). He is a fellow with the ACSM and AAPHERD groups. Other professional work includes co-authoring a series of books on fitness and wellness. The line of books were originally developed by Dr. Charles B. Corbin but I have assumed primary responsibilities for the preparation of the books. The Concepts of Physical Fitness text is in its 14th edition and a more comprehensive book covering various fitness and wellness topics (Concepts of Fitness and Wellness) is currently in the 7th edition. Both books are published by McGraw Hill Higher Education. Additional detail on my research interests can be found at my personal home page (www.public.iastate.edu/~gwelk)

Personal Interests

Personal interests include endurance sports (running, swimming, biking, skiing, triathlons) and recreation activities (golf / tennis). He currently has 3 active boys that keep him busy.