James studied for his undergraduate degree (BSc) in Sport & Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University & graduated in 2007. James’s time at Loughborough then continued as he went on to complete a PhD in Exercise Physiology which focused on the interaction between exercise and the neuroendocrine regulation of appetite & energy balance.

In November 2010, James commenced his post-doctoral research in the Exercise, Inflammation & Metabolism research group at Loughborough, during which time he contributed to the application which brought a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit (Diet, Lifestyle & Physical Activity) to the university. During the first three years of this award James worked as a Senior Research Associate across several research areas relating to exercise and its contribution to the management of chronic metabolic disease – particularly type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

James is currently a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology within the School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences and his research continues to investigate the role of lifestyle (exercise and diet) in the development and management of obesity and obesity-related diseases.

James's main research interests focus on the interaction between exercise and diet with energy balance, metabolism and chronic metabolic disease.

James is currently undertaking research in the following areas:

• Exercise as a therapeutic strategy in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
• Appetite control, energy balance and obesity
• Bespoke workplace interventions targeting risk factors for chronic metabolic disease (e.g. sedentary behaviour, physical inactivity, poor diet)
• High intensity intermittent exercise (HIT), metabolism and cardiometabolic health

Successful Grants

• King JA, Aithal GP, Davies MJ. Hepatokines as a novel mechanism linking type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Novo Nordisk.
• King JA, Aithal GP, Davies MJ. The impact of T2DM and exercise on hepatic fat quality. Diabetes UK. Early Career Grant.
• Clemes S, King JA, Hamer M, Munir F, Yates TY, Gray LJ, Richardson G, Daly HC, Edwardson CL. A cluster randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness and cost -effectiveness of a Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (The SHIFT Study). NIHR Public Health Research Grant.
• Davies MJ, Khunti K, Chatterjee S, Stensel DJ, King JA, Webb D.SGLT-2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin Effects on Appetite and Weight Regulation. Investigator Initiated Study -Boehringer Ingelheim.
• King JA, Nimmo MA. Knowledge Transfer Secondment - Physical Activity, Diet and Lifestyle in the Workplace. Enterprise Project Group (HEFCE)
• Stensel DJ, King JA. The influence of brisk walking on appetite and energy balance. The Ramblers Association.

Scientific advisor for the Nuffield Health Research Group

Invited reviewer for: Appetite, International Journal of Obesity, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, European Journal of Applied Physiology

Blood Collection Officer – UK Anti-Doping

• Sargeant JA, Gray LJ, Bodicoat DH, Willis SA, Stensel DJ, Nimmo MA, Aithal GP, King JA. The effect of exercise training on intra-hepatic triglyceride and hepatic insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. 2018; 19: 14446-1459.
• Sargeant JA, Aithal GA, Takamura T, Takayama H, Douglas JA, Turner M, Stensel DJ, Nimmo MA, Webb DW, Yates TY, King JA. The influence of adiposity and acute exercise on circulating hepatokines in men. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018; 43: 482-490.
• Sargeant JA, Bawden S, Aithal GP, Simpson E, MacDonald I, Turner MC, Cegielski J, Smith K, Dorling JL, Gowland P, Nimmo MA, King JA. Sprint interval training, ectopic lipids and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in NAFLD. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018; 118(4), 817-828.
• Goltz FR, Thackray AE, King JA, Dorling JL, Atkinson G, Stensel DJ. Interindividual responses of appetite to acute exercise: a replicated crossover study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018; 50(4): 758-768.
• Varela-Mato V, Caddick N, King JA, Johnson V, Edwardson C, Yates T, Stensel DJ, Daly H, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA. The impact of a novel structured health intervention for truckers (SHIFT) on physical activity and cardiometabolic risk factors: a pilot study. J Occup Environ Med. 2018;60(4): 368-376.
• Douglas JA, King JA, Clayton DJ, Sargeant JA, Thackray AE, Davies MJ, Stensel DJ. Acute effects of exercise on appetite, ad libitum energy intake and appetite-regulatory hormones in lean and overweight/obese men and women. Int J Obes. 2017; 41:1737-1744.
• McCarthy M, Edwardson CL, Davies MJ, Henson J, Rowlands A, Bodicoat D, King JA, Khunti K,  Yates T. Breaking up sedentary time with seated upper body activity can regulate metabolic health in obese high risk adults: a randomized crossover trial. Diab, Obes, Metab. 2017; 19: 1732-1739..
• McCarthy M, Edwardson CL, Davies MJ, Henson J, Bodicoat D, Khunti K, Dunstan DW, King JA, Yates T. Fitness moderates glycemic responses to sitting and light activity breaks. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017; 49: 2016-2222.
• King JA, Deighton K, Broom DR, Wasse LK, Douglas JA, Burns SF, Cordery PA, Petherick ES, Batterham RL, Reistenbach-Goltz F, Thackray AE, Stensel DJ. Individual variation in hunger, energy intake and ghrelin responses to exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017; 49: 1219-1228.
• Broom DR, Miyashita M, Wasse LK, Pulsford R, King JA, Thackray AE, Stensel DJ. Acute effect of exercise intensity and duration on plasma acylated ghrelin and hunger in healthy men. J Endocrinol. 2017; 232: 411-422.
• Varela-Mato V, O’Shea O, King JA, Yates TY, Stensel DJ, Biddle SJH, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA. Cross-sectional surveillance study to phenotype lorry drivers’ sedentary behaviours, physical activity and cardio-metabolic health. BMJ Open 2017; 7: eo13162..
• Jellyman C, Yates T, Gray L, King JA, Khunti KK, Davies MJ. The effects of high-intensity interval training on glucose regulation and insulin resistance: a meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2015; 16: 942-961.
• King JA, Garnham JO, Jackson AP, Kelly BM, Xenophontos S, Nimmo MA. Appetite-regulatory hormone responses on the day following a prolonged bout of moderate-intensity exercise. Physiol Behav. 2015; 141: 23-31.
• Nimmo MA, Leggate M, Viana JL, King JA. The effect of physical activity on mediators of inflammation. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2013; 15: 51-60.
• King JA, Wasse LK, Stensel DJ, Nimmo MA. Exercise and ghrelin: a narrative overview of research. Appetite. 2013, 68: 83-91.
• King JA, Wasse LK, Ewens J, Crystallis K, Emmanuel J, Batterham RL and Stensel DJ. Differential acylated ghrelin, peptide YY_3-36, appetite and food intake responses to equivalent energy deficits created by exercise and food restriction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011; 96: 1114-1121.