Learning from Experiences, Adherence, (preconception)Pregnancy(postpartum), Stigma
Learning from Experiences, Adherence, (preconception)Pregnancy(postpartum), Stigma
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About Us
About Us
Welcome to LEApPpS. This research program founded in 2023 is hosted at The University of Alberta in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation.
This research program aims to understand and share lessons learned from experiences of individuals before (preconception), during and after (postpartum) pregnancy, including navigating various spaces like healthcare and physical activity environments. The goal is to facilitate adherence to health behaviours and resources to improve maternal and newborn health. Together, we want to learn about, challenge and reduce health-related stigmas that may act as barriers to individual health goals and access to resources. Please contact us if you have any questions and for collaborations!
News and Announcements
News and Announcements
Our graduate: Brooke Hebert, MSc
Our graduate: Brooke Hebert, MSc
Huge congratulations to Brooke on successfully defending her MSc thesis exploring the intersect between weight and infertility stigma. Brooke has been with our lab since the beginning starting as a WCHRI funded summer student, lab volunteer, practicum student, and now MSc graduate! We are so proud of you and will miss you!
April 2026
Legislature meeting and filming a panel!
Legislature meeting and filming a panel!
Dr. Nagpal accompanied Obesity Canada to the Alberta legislature, meeting Minister LaGrange advocating for comprehensive obesity care and management! That same weekend, our team led the filming of a panel on weight stigma in pregnancy. This panel is a part of our WCHRI funded project in collaboration with Obesity Canada where we co-developed a short film on weight stigma in pregnancy alongside lived experience experts, and we have this post-panel offering further insights. The film and panel video will be coming soon!
April 2026
Our lab at ReCON
Our lab at ReCON
The U of A graduate kinesiology conference ReCon had several presentations from our students including Amy Alex, Jordyn Cox, Brooke Hebert, and Prabhnoor Sapra! Pictured here is Prabhnoor sharing preliminary findings from her directed study, a scoping review on adherence to physical activity amongst females who have menstural irregularities.
April 2026
Way to go Jordyn Cox!
Way to go Jordyn Cox!
Jordyn Cox is a recipient of a SSHRC CGSD!
April 2026
Way to go Amy Alex!
Way to go Amy Alex!
Amy Alex is a recipient of a SSHRC CGSM! She also received the Walter H Johns Graduate Fellowship top up award!
April 2026
Congrats to Jordyn Cox!
Congrats to Jordyn Cox!
Here is Jordyn Cox doing an interview at the Obesity Canada and MyRoad mentorship breakfast, Jordyn received an Obesity Canada travel award funded by MyRoad. She also, for the second year in a row, won the University of Alberta Graduate Student Engagement Scholarship!
March 2026
Weight and infertility stigma - SSHRC IDG
Weight and infertility stigma - SSHRC IDG
Our SSHRC funded project on exploring weight and infertility stigma is coming to an end, with an end of grant workshop hosted at the Obesity Canada Summit (publications will be posted soon!). Thank you to Dr. Virginie Blanchette who shared a lived experience presentation, and Dr. Jean-Patrice Baillargeon who presented on the physiology regarding obesity and fertility. MSc student Brooke Hebert helped lead case studies drawing from her dissertation work! Dr. Tasneem Sajwani (not pictured) supported review of case studies.
March 2026
Dr. Nagpal at this year's Obesity Canada Summit
Dr. Nagpal at this year's Obesity Canada Summit
What a busy Summit this year! Dr. Nagpal was the Chair for the opening symposium on weight stigma across the life course (pictured above) alongside an incredible panel of women in science! She also was the Chair for two clinical sessions discussing obesity management and intersections considering race/ethnicity, and was the Chair for a keynote address on Women and Obesity by international scholar Dr. Emilia Huivien!
March 2026
Over to Montreal for the Obesity Canada Summit
Over to Montreal for the Obesity Canada Summit
From left to right, we have Brady Duiker (medical student, volunteer) who presented a poster mapping CIHR obesity funding profiles, Amy Alex (MSc Student) shared her poster on weight stigma in pregnancy/postpartum amongst South Asian women, Jordyn Cox (PhD student), presented a poster on menopause and weight stigma, that's Taniya next who had a very busy summit (see the next post), Brooke Hebert (MSc Student) did an oral presentation on weight and infertility stigma, and Kaylyn MacDonald (Research Assistant) did an oral presentation on describing the weight culture in undergraduate kinesiology. Kaylyn was the recipient of the undergraduate oral presentation award! Brady won a very competitive MyRoad travel award!
March 2026
University of Alberta KSR Research Day
University of Alberta KSR Research Day
Master's students Amy Alex and Brooke Hebert, and undergraduate volunteer Lina El Sayed represented our lab at this year's KSR Research Day. Brooke did an oral presentation on her thesis work exploring the intersect between weight and infertility stigma. Amy presented a poster on her directed study examining weight stigma in pregnancy/postpartum amongst South Asian women. Lina presented her proposal on examining weight stigma content in undergraduate science programs. Amy took home this year's poster award!
March 2026
Watch Dr. Taniya Nagpal on CTV News!
Watch Dr. Taniya Nagpal on CTV News!
The term started off with a quick chat with Your Morning Edmonton on the importance of avoiding weight loss as your motivation to be active. Watch the full interview by clicking here
January 2026
Territorial Acknowledgement
Territorial Acknowledgement
The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the traditional territory of Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, and Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe nations; lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.
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