Collage of the four images: top left two students observing another make a nutritional smoothie, top right a trainer observing a patient run on a treadmill, bottom left trainer stabilizing a patient's knee, bottom right trainer performing a neurological test on a patient

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences News

The department of kinesiology and nutrition sciences within the School of Integrated Health Sciences provides a high-quality educational experience in the areas of kinesiology, nutrition sciences, and athletic training. Students receive rigorous classroom instruction aided by computer and multimedia instruction, practical laboratory immersion, and clinical experiences.

Current Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences News

two professors holding up tea and coffee
Research |

UNLV Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences professors debate the health perks of drinking two of the world's favorite beverages.

Students on campus.
Campus News |

A selection of top news headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

Older white man with receding brown hair wearing tan pants, a gray UNLV polo shirt and eyeglasses sits on an exercise bike in the UNLV Exercise Physiology lab
People |

When the dream of being a pro athlete failed to materialize, James Navalta followed in his father’s academic footsteps. Now, the kinesiology professor is the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Award winner.

First day of classes.
Campus News |

The top news stories starring university students and staff.

First day of classes.
Campus News |

The top news stories starring university students and staff.

Bald white man in plaid shirt and gray pants smiles while sitting on a short wall outdoors on UNLV's campus
People |

After two UNLV degrees paved the way to success for Kevin Pitt, the Integrated Health Sciences Alumnus of the Year is doing his part to help future Rebel graduates.

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences In The News

Wise & Well

Advice on dietary supplements is all over the place, thanks to a lack of convincing research on many products coupled with scant governmental regulation that allows misleading marketing claims from manufacturers. Then there’s the ill-informed advice from social media influencers and friends who offer glowing anecdotal “evidence” for their favorite pill or potion.

Good Housekeeping

Inflammation is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's a natural and incredibly important bodily response. Inflammation is what helps you heal from an injury like a cut on your finger or an infection, such as a cold or stomach bug.

Verywell Health

You've probably heard that olive oil should be avoided when cooking at high temperatures because of its low smoke point. However, research suggests that unrefined extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is quite stable and safe to cook with.

GB News

Eating freeze-dried strawberries every day could help people with prediabetes avoid developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has revealed. Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, found that consuming the equivalent of 2.5 servings of fresh strawberries daily for 12 weeks can lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.

News Medical Life Sciences

Researchers found that daily freeze-dried strawberry intake enhanced antioxidant biomarkers, lowered inflammation, and improved fasting glucose, suggesting a delicious way to support metabolic health and prevent diabetes progression.

KNPR News

Here’s a simple way to switch up your walking routine, according to experts: try going backward. Taking a brisk walk is an exercise rich in simplicity, and it can have impressive mental and physical benefits: stronger bones and muscles, cardiovascular fitness and stress relief, to name a few. But like any workout, hoofing it for your health may feel repetitive and even boring after a while.

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Experts

An expert on sports and medical nutrition, exercise science, and weight management. 
An expert on the role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic diseases, especially in older adults.
A registered dietitian with expertise in nutrition, food and ethnic issues, and dietetics.
An expert in behavioral nutrition.
An expert in human body movement, the physics of sports, and running.
A food nutritionist specializing in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Recent Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Accomplishments

Sara Rosenkranz and Neda Akhavan (both Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), along with Donya Shahamati (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences alumna), recently published Postprandial Inflammation in Obesity: Dietary Determinants, Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and the Gut Microbiome in the journal Biomolecules. 
Arpita Basu (Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences) published, with colleagues Kenneth Izuora, Amber Champion, Shauna Groven (all Medicine), findings on circulating antioxidant biomarkers from a 28-week randomized controlled trial in adults with prediabetes. Pamela Devillez is an alum of the MS program in Nutrition Sciences. The trial was…
Sara Rosenkranz, Donya Shahamati, Christopher Acosta, and Richard Rosenkranz (all Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), along with colleagues from Kansas State University recently published "Evaluating correlates of healthy eating and dietary quality among older adults: a mixed methods approach to development and application of a new survey…
The paper, "Self-selected movement patterns during lateral locomotion with body weight support," was published in Human Movement Science and the result of work done by Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences undergraduate (Natalia Pravica, Emma Foley) and graduate (Matthew Heninger, Katsiaryna Afanasyeva) students as well as by post…
Graduate student Cyanea Davies has published her thesis: Lower extremity muscle activity during walking with blood flow restriction and body weight support. The publication appears in the latest issue of Biomechanics 2025, 5, 72 and includes co-authors Alina Swafford (Sports Innovation Institute), Keoni Kins (Physical Therapy…
Sara Rosenkranz (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), Donya Shahamati (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences Alumna), and Richard Rosenkranz (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), along with colleagues from Kansas State University, recently published The feasibility and acceptability of height-adjustable stand-up desks in a self-contained…