Dr. Rebecca Battista

Dr. Rebecca A. “Becki” Battista is a professor in Appalachian State University’s exercise science program and serves as director of App State’s Office of Student Research. Her research focuses on promoting physical activity opportunities for children, youth, college students and families. An Exercise is Medicine ambassador and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certified physical activity and public health specialist, she is an advocate for physical activity and promoting and supporting physical education.

Her contributions include serving on various national organizations, such as the ACSM, where she chaired the ACSM President’s Task Force on Youth Fitness, served as chair of the ACSM Special Health Initiative on Youth Sports and Health, and was a board member for the National Youth Sports Health and Safety Institute. She is also president of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM). Currently, she is working on the National Physical Activity Plan’s Education Sector developing strategies and tactics to increase physical activity opportunities and promote physical education.

Her research bridges policy and practice. Much of her work has been done with young children and child care centers determining how they can more effectively meet federal and state guidelines for physical activity. She is also a team member of a multidisciplinary research group — the HOPE Lab — which brings together researchers and practitioners from a variety of disciplines and fields to promote health through spending time outdoors engaged in physical activity, exercise and play. Battista is also a co-host on the podcast Appalachian Outdoorosity, created with colleagues to inspire and inform audiences about the importance of engaging in outdoor physical activity.

Areas of expertise

• Physical activity and children and youth
• Improving motor development to increase physical activity in children
• Outdoor physical activity
• Youth sports
• Exercise is Medicine On Campus