Hawley Almstedt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Science
Loyola Marymount University
Contact Information
Office: 208 North Hall One LMU Drive, MS 8160 Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659 Email: halmstedt@lmu.edu Office: 310-338-1925
Education
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Degree: Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science
Major: Exercise Physiology
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Degree: M.A. in Kinesiology
Major: Exercise Physiology
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Degree: B.S. in Nutritional Science
Research Interests
The bulk of my research interests are in studying the development of peak bone mass and its role in prevention of osteoporosis. Dietary intake, physical activity, and hormones can all affect development of peak bone mass in children and young adults. I strive to examine the influence of these factors on bone mineral density. I am also interested in studying bone physiology and metabolism.
As a former gymnast, I became interested in the field of bone health because of circumstances I encountered amongst my fellow teammates and in the athletes I coached. The female athlete triad is a combination of three inter-related disorders; disordered eating patterns, menstrual disturbances, and sub-optimal bone health. Athletes are often under extreme pressure to carefully watch their dietary intake in order to optimize performance and maintain a lean body mass. A mismatch between energy expended during activity and calories consumed in the diet can lead to menstrual disturbances. Alteration of the female reproductive hormones has a negative effect on bone health. I am interested in studying eating patterns in athletes, alterations of reproductive hormones in women, and their influence on the skeleton.
I am also interested in the general benefits of physical activity and in particular strength training program design.
Courses Taught
Nutrition, NTLS 255
Advanced Nutrition, NTLS 455
Advanced Nutrition Laboratory, NTLS 456
Exercise Physiology, NTLS 355
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, NTLS 356
Recent Publications
Almstedt Shoepe, H.C. & Snow, C.M. (2005). Oral contraceptive use in young women is associated with lower bone mineral density than that of controls. Osteoporosis International, 16, 1538-1544.
Abstract Publications
Almstedt Shoepe, H.C., & Snow, C.M. (2005). Bone mineral density in young women with short-term vs. long-term use of oral contraceptives. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37, S460.
Almstedt, H.C., & Snow, C.M. (2004). Oral contraceptive users have lower bone density than non-users. Journal of Bone Mineral Research, 19, S170.
Almstedt, H.C., Gunter, K.B., Littrell, T.R. & Snow, C.M. (2004). Timing and length of hormone replacement therapy and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36, S107.
Maddalozzo, G.F., Cardinal, B.J., Almstedt, H.C., & Snow, C.M. (2003). Hormone replacement therapy does not prevent gains in fat mass in early postmenopausal women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35, S296.
Almstedt, H.C., Plato, P.A., Wughalter, E.H., Schroeder, C.A., & Kent, K. (2002). Effects of menstrual history on bone mineral density in female college gymnasts. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34, S37.
Fuller, A.F., Almstedt, H.C., & Snow, C.M. (2002). Effects of gymnastics training on volumetric and areal spine BMD. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34, S58.
Student Presentations
Organist, G.L & Almstedt, H.C. (2006). Caffeine consumption and bone mineral density among college students. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine, November 2006.
Podlecki, D.M. & Almstedt, H.C. (2006). Calcium to phosphorus ratio and bone mineral density. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine, November 2006.