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Biography

Keith Brazendale is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences. His research interests center on childhood obesity prevention and treatment, specifically focusing on obesogenic behaviors such as physical activity, sleep and sedentary behavior in-and-out of school time. Brazendale also is interested in the etiology of children’s accelerated weight gain during summer months. He developed and published a research hypothesis – the ‘Structured Days Hypothesis’ – to explain why this may be occurring.

Credentials

  • Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise Science, University of South Carolina
  • MS, Master of Science, Exercise Science, Florida Atlantic University

Research

Areas of Specialty
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Physical Activity
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • sleep

Research Grants

Health Sciences

School versus Summer Weight-Gain and Health-related Behaviors in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • PI: Keith Brazendale
    • Amount: $40,000 | Timeframe: 12/01/2021 - 07/30/2022
    Funding Type: Internal
    Funding Agency: Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
    Health Sciences

    Investigating the Underlying Mechanisms of Disparities in Sleep Deficiencies in Children

  • PI: Keith Brazendale
  • Co-PI:
    • Amount: $5,000 | Timeframe: 01/01/2020 - 12/31/2020
    Funding Type: Internal
    Funding Agency: Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training (CBHRT)
    Health Sciences

    Development of a Family-Centered Cooking Class for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • PI:
  • Co-PI: Keith Brazendale
  • Co-PI: Eunkyung “Muriel” Lee
  • Co-PI: Shawn Lawrence
    • Amount: $25,000 | Timeframe: 07/01/2019 - 06/30/2020
    Funding Type: Extramural Research
    Funding Agency: Healthy Weight Research Network

    News

  • Awardees Announced for 2023 Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration

     Written By: Joe Adams | March 31, 2023
    UCF’s annual marquee event for faculty on April 5 highlights outstanding teaching, advising, mentoring, research, professional service and librarianship.

  • Undergraduate Health Sciences Students Showcase Research Proposals at Symposium

     Written By: David Janosik | December 9, 2021
    Students enrolled in HSC4730 Applied Health Research Methods presented their research project proposals to faculty judges during the Department of Health Sciences Fall 2021 Research Symposium on Dec. 8 at...

  • Genius Foundation Awards $300,000 To UCF Interdisciplinary Health Research

     Written By: WENDY SARUBBI | October 7, 2021
    Eight interdisciplinary faculty research projects — on health topics including pain management, improving provider-patient communication, and intimate partner violence — have received about $300,000 in grant funding through a new...

  • School Day Structure Could Benefit Children’s Health

     Written By: Robert Wells | September 1, 2021
    Researchers found that children’s obesogenic behaviors on school days are more favorable compared to non-school days. Having a structured environment for children, whether during school days or when stuck in...

  • The physical benefits of face-to-face learning

     Written By: Fox35 Orlando | August 4, 2021
    Keith Brazendale, assistant professor of health sciences at UCF, talks to Good Day Orlando about the benefits for kids doing in-person learning.
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