Dr Veronica Varela-Mato

PhD

  • Senior Research Associate (Public Health Evaluations)

Research groups and centres

Publications
ORCiD Google Scholar

Veronica Varela Mato is a Senior Research Associate in Health and Wellbeing who has extensive experience in working with the private sector to develop health schemes to support the health of those employees most at need. She completed her PhD in cardiovascular health, sedentary behaviours and physical activity in transport workers at Loughborough University in 2016. Following her PhD, she completed a post-doctoral position in Exercise Metabolism with Professor David Stensel. In 2017, she started her position as a research associate and project manager on the NIHR funded Structured Health Intervention for Truckers (SHIFT) Study within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.

Veronica is currently working closely with Professor Lauren Sherar.

Dr Varela Mato is committed to developing healthier working environments for employees at risk of chronic conditions and poor mental health. Her research focuses on the promotion of health and wellbeing, and management of chronic conditions in disadvantaged workplace settings. She has expertise in intervention development, and the prevention and management of ill-health through lifestyle changes in at risk occupational groups. Her work aims to create tailored and sustainable health schemes and resources to improve employees’ health and wellbeing and quality of working life. Dr Varela Mato works closely with businesses and employees and has extensive experience in the area of translational research and promotion of health.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Preventive Medicine, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, BMJ, International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, Applied Ergonomics, European Journal of Sport Science.

Abstract reviewer for International Society for Physical Activity and Health

International Society for Physical Activity and Health – (ISPAH) member of the communications committee

Elena+ research team

Featured publications

Galmes-Pamades, A; Varela-Mato V, Konieczna J et al. Isotemporal substitution of inactive time with physical activity and time in bed: Cross-sectional associations WITH CARDIOMETABOLIC HEALTH in the PREDIMED-Plus study. IJBNPA, 2019

Clemes, SA, Varela-Mato V, Munir F, Edwardson CL, Chen YL, Hamer H, Gray L, Jaicim NB, Richardson G, Johnson V, Troughton J, Yates T, King J. A cluster randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (The SHIFT Study): Study Protocol. BMJ Open, 2019

Goltz F, Thackray E, Varela-Mato V, King J, Dorling J, Dowejko M, Mastana S, Thompson J, Atkinson G, Stensel D. Exploration of associations between the FTO genotype, fasting and postprandial appetite-related hormones and perceived appetite in healthy men and women.  Appetite, 2019

Varela-Mato V, Clemes SA, King J, Munir F. Associations Between Musculoskeletal Conditions Risk, Sedentary Behaviour, Sleep and Markers of Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers: Musculoskeletal Conditions Risk in HGV Drivers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental medicine. 2019

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. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 2018 Apr 1;60(4):368-76.

Varela-Mato V, Caddick N, King JA, Yates T, Stensel DJ, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA. A Structured Health Intervention for Truckers (SHIFT): A Process Evaluation of a Pilot Health Intervention in a Transport Company. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 2018 Apr 1;60(4):377-85.

Varela Mato V, Yates T, Stensel D, Biddle S, Clemes SA. Concurrent Validity of Actigraph-Determined Sedentary Time Against the Activpal Under Free-Living Conditions in a Sample of Bus Drivers. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. 2017 Oct 2;21(4):212-22.

Varela-Mato V, O’Shea O, King JA, Yates T, Stensel DJ, Biddle SJ, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA. Cross-sectional surveillance study to phenotype lorry drivers’ sedentary behaviours, physical activity and cardio-metabolic health. BMJ open. 2017 Jun 1;7(6):e013162.

Varela-Mato V, Yates T, Stensel DJ, Biddle SJ, Clemes SA. Time spent sitting during and outside working hours in bus drivers: A pilot study. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2016 Jun 30;3:36-9.

Caddick N, Varela-Mato V, Nimmo MA, Clemes S, Yates T, King JA. Understanding the health of lorry drivers in context: A critical discourse analysis. Health. 2016 Apr 21:1363459316644492.

Varela-Mato V, Cancela JM, Ayan C, Martín V, Molina A. Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2012, 9, 2728-2741.