Professor and Department Head
HPER 328
865-974-7971
zan@utk.edu
Personal Webpage
ORCID
Google Scholar Citation
Faculty Profile
Physical Activity Epidemiology Laboratory
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Zan Gao obtained his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 2007. He is the Department Head and Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies at The University of Tennessee. Dr. Gao’s research has primarily focused on promoting health through lifestyle behavior interventions with emerging technologies such as active video games, virtual reality, health wearables and fitness apps.
In the past 17 years, Dr. Gao has given over 260 presentations at various international and national conferences. He has also published 180 (including 138 first-authored or senior-authored) research articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Obesity Review, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal of Health and Sports Science, Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, Computers in Human Behavior, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (RQES), and the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (JTPE); 29 book chapters and 3 edited books. His Google Scholar H-index is 57, and he has been ranked among the top 2% of the most-cited scientists globally for three consecutive years, from 2022 to 2024. Dr. Gao has been the recipient of several international and national awards, including the 2008 National Association for Kinesiology and Physical Education in Higher Education Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award, 2009 American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) Mabel Lee Award, 2013 National Association for Sport and Physical Education Curriculum and Instruction Heitmann Young Scholar Award, 2015 SHAPE America Leroy T. Walker Young Professional Award, and 2024 SHAPE America E.B. Henderson Award.
Dr. Gao has been the principal investigator of the National Institute of Health research grant, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant, Roche Holding AG Pharmaceuticals grant, and AAHPERD Seed Grant. He also serves as a reviewer for many journals including, but not limited to JTPE, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Obesity Review, as the Section Editor for Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, the Editorial Board Member for the JTPE, Games for Health, Contemporary Clinical Trials, Journal of Clinical Medicine, and Associate Editor for Journal of Health and Sports Science, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, and RQES, and Editor-in-chief for Journal of Research, Teaching, and Media in Kinesiology.
Dr. Gao is currently an active Fellow of National Academy of Kinesiology, the Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Fellow of Shape America! Research Council. He was the President of the International Chinese Society for Physical Activities and Health from 2017-2018. He was on the faculty at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2012-2023), Texas Tech University (2010-2012), and University of Utah (2007-2010).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
| 2023-Present | Department Head and Professor | Physical Activity and Health – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
|
2012 – 2023 |
Professor with Tenure (2022), Associate Professor with Tenure (2016), Assistant Professor of Physical Activity and Health Promotion; |
School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN |
|
2010 – 2012 |
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science |
Texas Tech University, College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences |
|
2010 – 2014 |
Adjunct Professor |
University of Utah, College of Health, Department of Exercise and Sport Science |
|
2007 – 2010 |
Assistant Professor of Sports Pedagogy |
University of Utah, College of Health, Department of Exercise and Sport Science |
|
2003 – 2007 |
Graduate Assistant |
Louisiana State University |
EDUCATION
| PhD |
Louisiana State University |
Kinesiology (Concentration: Pedagogy and Psychological Science of Physical activity) Minor: Experimental Statistics |
| M.Ed. |
Beijing Sport University (previously named Beijing University of Physical Education) |
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching |
| B.Ed. |
Hunan Normal University |
Physical Education |
SELECTED GRANTS
Project: Feasibility of Implementing Personalized eHealth Program through Fitness Wearable and Application Among Rural Cancer Survivors. 2024-2025. The University of Tennessee. Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Feasibility and Efficacy of A Remote Tai Chi Program on Older Adults’ Physical Behaviors, Fall Prevention, Cognition and Wellbeing. 2022-2024. University of Minnesota. Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Using Smart Fitness Band and Mobile Phone App to Improve Health in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Clinical Trial of Smart Health Management. 2022-2025. Roche Holding AG Pharmaceuticals (China Branch). Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Personalized Nutrition Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Improve Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 2025-2028. National Institutes of Health (NIDDK: 1R01DK139020-01A1). Role: Co-Investigator. Pending.
Project: Prolonged Daily Fasting as a Viable Alternative to Caloric Restriction in At-Risk Obese Humans. 2020-2023. National Institutes of Health (NIDDK; 5R01DK124484). Role: Co-Investigator.
Project: Effects of A Tai Chi App on Disease Management among Breast Cancer Survivors. 2020-2021. Hourglass Integrative Therapies Cancer Research Award. Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Measurement of Glucose Homeostasis in Human Brain by NMR. National Institutes of Health (2 R01 NS035192-17). 2018-2023. Role: Co-Investigator.
Project: Phase 2a Study of Subcutaneous Hydrocortisone Infusion Pump for the Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. 2018-2021. FDA/FD-R-06100-01-A1. Role: Co-Investigator.
Project: Mindful Movement for Physical Activity and Wellbeing in Older Adults. 2017-2022. National Institutes of Health R21/R33 (1R21AT009110-01). Role: Co-Investigator.
Project: Teach Exergaming and Activities on Cognition and Health in Preschoolers: Project TEACH. 2016-2019. National Institutes of Health (1R56HL130078-01). Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Impact of Interactive Video Games on Underserved Children’s Health. 2012-2016.National Institutes of Health (1R15HD071514-01A1). Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Implementing Personalized Exercise Prescriptions through Mobile Health in the Elderly Cancer Survivors. 2021-2023. University of Minnesota. Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Improving Breast Cancer Survivors’ Disease Management Outcomes through Smartphone Apps and Online Health Community. 2016-2018. University of Minnesota. Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Integrating Dance Dance Revolution to Promote Urban Latino School Children’s Physical Health and Academic Achievement: Project GAME. 2009-2011. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Salud America! (#66347). Role: Principal investigator.
Project: Impact of Physical Activities on Urban Latino Children’s Physical Fitness, Self-esteem and Academic Performance. 2009-2011. The University of Utah. Role: Principal investigator.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
He, Z., Hassan, M., Saiz-Gonzalez, P., Ryu, S., & Gao, Z. (2024). Smartphone app-based interventions on physical activity behaviors and psychological correlates in healthy young adults: A systematic review. Plos One. 19(4), e0301088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301088 (Impact factor: 3.75).
Hassan, M., Zhou, W., He, H., Ye, M., & Gao, Z. (2024). The effectiveness of physical activity interventions on blood pressure in children and adolescents: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 13(5):699-708. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.01.004. (Impact factor: 9.80).
Gao, Z., Ryu, S., Zhou, W., Hassan, M., Adams, K., Zhang, R., Bleas, A., Wolfson, J., & Sun, J. (2023). Effects of personalized exercise prescriptions and social media delivered through m-health on cancer survivors’ physical activity and quality of life. Journal of Sport and Health Science. S2095-2546(23)00071-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.07.002. (Impact factor: 11.70).
Gao, Z., Ryu, S., & Chen, Y. (2022). Effects of Tai Chi App and Facebook health education programs on breast cancer survivors’ stress and quality of life in the era of pandemic. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 48:101621. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101621. Epub ahead of print. (Impact factor: 3. 57).
Ryu, S., Adams, K., Chen, Y., & Gao, Z. (2022). Breast cancer survivors’ physical activity, psychosocial beliefs, daily trip behaviors, and subjective well-being: A descriptive study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. Epub ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101688
Hassan, M., Liu, W., McDonough, D.J., Su, X., & Gao, Z. (2022). Comparative effectiveness of physical activity intervention programs on children’s motor skills: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19, 11914. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911914 (Impact factor: 4.614)
McDonough, D., Liu, W., & Gao, Z. (2021). Effects of a remote YouTube-delivered exercise intervention on young adults’ physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sport and Health Science. (Impact factor: 7.179).
McDonough, D.J., Liu, W, Su, X., & Gao, Z. (2021). Small-groups versus full-class exergaming on urban minority adolescents’ physical activity, enjoyment, and self-efficacy. Journal of Physical activity and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0348. (Impact factor: 2.25).
Lee, J., & Gao, Z. (2020). The effect of the iPad and mobile application-integrated physical education on children’s physical activity and psychosocial beliefs. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. Available online May 8, 2020. DOI: 10.1080/17408989.2020.1761953 (impact factor: 2.928)
Su, X., McDonough, D.J., Chu, H., Quan, M., & Gao, Z. (2020). Application of network meta-analysis in the field of physical activity and health promotion. Journal of Sports and Health Science, 9(6), 511-520. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.07.011. (impact factor: 5.20)
Gao, Z., Zeng, N., Pope, Z.C., Wang, R., & Yu, F. (2019). Effects of exergaming on motor skill competence, perceived competence, and physical activity in preschool children. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8(2), 106 -113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2018.12.001
McDonough, D.J., Su, X., & Gao, Z. (2021). Health wearables for weight and BMI reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55, 917-925. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103594 (Impact factor: 13.80).
Gao, Z., Zeng, N., McDonough, D.J., & Su, X. (2020). A systematic review of active video games on youth’s body composition and physical activity. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(09): 561-573. DOI: 10.1055/a-1152-4959 (impact factor: 2.556)
Gao, Z., Lee, J., McDonough, D.J., & Albers, C. (2020). Virtual reality exercise as a coping strategy for health and wellness promotion in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(6), 1986. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9061986. (impact factor: 3.30)