Headshot of Simon Higgins

Simon Higgins

Assistant Professor of Exercise Science

Department: Exercise Science

Office and address: Koury Center (Athletics), office 205 2525 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-6880

Professional Expertise

Cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Health, Behavioral Measurement (e.g. PA, SED, Diet), Strength and Conditioning

Brief Biography

I am a behavioral exercise physiologist and certified strength and conditioning specialist whose research focuses on the behavioral and lifestyle-related factors that contribute to (1) skeletal and (2) cardiometabolic health across the lifespan, with a particular interest in youth and young adulthood. Within these two complementary streams of research, studies aim to a) identify modifiable determinants of disease risk, b) improve on current methodological paradigms, and c) implement risk prevention through early intervention. I have expertise in behavioral measurement, (e.g. physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, diet, stress, etc.) as well as skeletal imaging (DXA and pQCT) and cardiometabolic risk assessment via blood biomarkers and other non-invasive means. This expertise has contributed to recent projects, including 1) sex differences in the muscle-bone unit via serial mediation modeling, 2) determinants of metabolic syndrome risk factor development in youth and young adults, and 3) the effects of sedentary behavior on bone mineral and structural accrual. I have a passion for mentorship through research and hold a strong belief that Exercise is Medicine®, serving as the faculty advisor for Elon's Exercise is Medicine On Campus initiative. I live out this belief by mountain biking, resistance training, and walking my dog regularly, as well as through my co-ownership of a strength and conditioning/coaching business (Fortitude Performance Coaching) with my wife Lauren. For further detail about my interests and expertise, see:

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Higgins4/

    Education

    2017       PhD        University of Georgia, Athens, GA                 Exercise Physiology

    2012       BSc        Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK     Sport and Exercise Science

    Employment History

    2017 - Present              Assistant Professor, Elon Unversity

    Courses Taught

    Exercise Testing and Prescription; Senior Seminar; Exercise Science and Aging; Theory and Practice of Strength and Conditioning; Practicum in Exercise Science; Medical Terminology; Introduction to Exercise Science

    Leadership Positions

    Faculty Lead, Exercise is Medicine on Campus Initiative

    Publications

    Author names that are underlined were student-mentees. 

    1. Higgins S, Straight CR, Lewis RD. The effects of pre-exercise caffeinated-coffee ingestion on endurance performance: An evidence based review. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism [IF: 2.217]. 2016; 26(3): 221-239. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0147
       
    2. Higgins S, Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Sprint interval and moderate-intensity cycling training differentially affect adiposity and aerobic capacity in overweight young-adult women. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism [IF: 2.023]. 2016; 41(11): 1177-1183. DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0240
       
    3. Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Higgins S, Das, BM, Forehand, RL, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Interactive associations of physical activity, adiposity, and oral contraceptive use on C-reactive protein levels in young women. Women & Health [IF: 1.162]. 2018; 58(2): 129-144. DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2017.1292341
       
    4. Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Higgins S, Forehand, RL, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Moderate, but not vigorous, intensity exercise training reduced C-reactive protein. Acta Cardiologica [IF: 0.951]. 2018; 73(3): 283-290. DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2017.1364832
       
    5. Higgins S, Sokolowski CM, Vishwanathan M, Anderson JG, Schmidt MD, Lewis RD, Evans EM. Predicting diaphyseal cortical bone status using measures of muscle force capacity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise [IF: 4.478]. 2018; 50(7): 1433-1441. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001581
       
    6. Fedewa MV, Bentley JL, Higgins S, Kindler JM, Esco MR, MacDonald HV. Celiac disease and bone health in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Densitometry [IF: 2.184]. 2020; 23(2): 200-211. DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2019.02.003
       
    7. Higgins S, Belcher SL, Lewis RD. Sedentary Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: What is the Influence on Bone Strength? In: CM Weaver et al., eds. Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2019. P. 95-108. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-98464-3_9
       
    8. Higgins S, Sokolowski CM, Vishwanathan M, Schmidt MD, Lewis RD, Evans EM. Sex-specific muscular pathways mediate the effect of habitual loading on cortical bone in young adults. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research [IF: 5.711]. 2019; 35(1). DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3868.
       
    9. Sokolowski CM, Higgins S, Vishwanathan M, Evans EM. The relationship between animal and plant protein intake and overall diet quality in young adults. Clinical Nutrition [IF: 6.402]. 2019; [In Press]. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2019.11.035
       
    10. Burnet K, Higgins S, Kelsch E, Moore JB, Stoner L. The effects of manipulation of Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type (FITT) on exercise adherence: a meta-analysis. Translational Sports Medicine. 2020; 3(3). DOI: 10.1002/tsm2.138
       
    11. Stoner L, Higgins S, Black K, Boggess K, Meyer ML, Chou A, Galland B, Haszard JJ, Meredith-Jones K, Saeedi P, Skeaff S, and Skidmore PML. Short Sleep Duration is Associated with Central Arterial Stiffness in Children Independent of Other Lifestyle Behaviors. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. 2020; 2: 236–245. DOI: 10.1007/s42978-020-00062-5
       
    12. Higgins S, Stoner L, Lubransky, A, Howe AS, Wong JE, Black K, and Skidmore PML. Social Jetlag is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Male but not Female Adolescents. Sleep Medicine [IF: 3.038]. 2020; 75: 163-170. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.07.030
       
    13. Higgins S, Higgins LQ, Vallabhajosula S. Site-specific concurrent validity of the Actigraph GT9X Link in the estimation of activity-related skeletal loading. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise [IF: 4.478]. 2020. [Online ahead of print]. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002562
       
    14. Higgins S, Smith AN, Williams ER, Das BD, Fedewa MV, Evans EM. Sex-Specific Correlates of Metabolic Syndrome Risk in College-aged Young Adults. Journal of American College Health [IF: 1.710]. 2020. [Online ahead of print]. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1869751
       
    15. Hall E, Bailey E, Higgins S, Ketcham C, Nepocatych S, Wittstein M. Application of the Salient Practices Framework for Undergraduate Research Mentoring in Virtual Environments. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 2021. [Online ahead of print]. DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.228

    Presentations

    1. Higgins S, Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Light physical activity is positively associated with aerobic capacity in young overweight sedentary women. Thematic poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Jacksonville FL, February 2015.
       
    2. Hathaway ED, Fedewa MV, Higgins S, Evans EM, Schmidt MD. Objective classification of physical activity intensity in overweight or obese college-age females over a 24-hour period. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Jacksonville FL, February 2015.
       
    3. Higgins S, Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Light physical activity is positively associated with aerobic capacity in young overweight sedentary women. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, San Diego CA, May 2015.
       
    4. Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Higgins S, Das BM, Forehand RL, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Interactive effect of oral contraceptive use, weight status, and physical activity on C-reactive protein levels in young women. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, San Diego CA, May 2015.
       
    5. Higgins S, Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Sprint interval and moderate-intensity continuous cycle training differentially affect adiposity and fitness in overweight women. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Boston MA, May 2016. Student Award Winner.
       
    6. Higgins S, Kindler JM, Mahar TF, Hathaway ED, Laing EM, Schmidt MD, Evans EM, Lewis RD. Sedentary time and diaphyseal cortical bone outcomes in American adolescents. Poster presentation at the American Society of Bone Mineral Research Annual Meeting, Atlanta GA, September 2016.
       
    7. Higgins S, Reed RM. Developing undergraduate research assistants using graduate-focused mentorship. Oral presentation at the Innovation in Teaching Conference, Athens GA, October 2016.
       
    8. Hathaway ED, Fedewa MV, Higgins S, Evans EM, Schmidt MD. Associations between compensatory and cardiometabolic responses to exercise in college-age females. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Greenville SC, February 2017.
       
    9. Grant A, Hathaway ED, Fedewa MV, Higgins S, Peyer K, Hamilton KC, Evans EM, Schmidt MD. Changes in self-reported sleep during a structured exercise program in college females. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Greenville SC, February 2017.
       
    10. Durall A, Hathaway ED, Fedewa MV, Higgins S, Peyer K, Hamilton KC, Evans EM, Schmidt MD. Changes in self-reported energy intake by motivation level in females engaged in exercise. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Greenville SC, February 2017.
       
    11. Higgins S, Kindler JM, Mahar TF, Coheley LM, Laing EM, Schmidt MD, Evans EM, Lewis RD. Sedentary Behavior and Cortical Bone in Healthy Adolescents and Young Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Analysis. Poster presentation at the 10th International Symposium on the Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis Conference, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, November 2017.
       
    12. Lewis RD, Higgins S. Sedentary Behaviors in Children: What is the Influence on Bone Strength? Co-authored an invited speaker presentation at the 10th International Symposium on the Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis Conference, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, November 2017.
       
    13. Belcher SL, Higgins S, Kindler JM, Mahar TF, Coheley LM, Laing EM, Schmidt MD, Evans EM, Lewis RD. Sedentary Behavior and Cortical Bone in Healthy Adolescents and Young Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Analysis. Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance Conference. Brasleton, GA. February 2018
       
    14. Frederick GM, Fedewa MV, Das BM, McConnell WJ, Hathaway ED, Salyer RE, Higgins S, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Waist Circumference Influences Associations Between Physical Activity And Metabolic Syndrome Risk In College-aged Females. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2018 National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2018.
       
    15. Castillo-Hernández IM, Vishwanathan M, Beck CD, Fedewa MV, Das BM, McConnell WJ, Hathaway ED, Higgins S, Schmidt MD, Evans EM. Dietary Fat and Carbohydrate Intake and Physical Activity Independently Predict Android Fat in College Women. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2018 National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2018.
       
    16. Higgins S, Sokolowski CM, Vishwanathan M, Anderson JG, Schmidt MD, Evans EM, Lewis RD. Sex-specific Mediation Of Physical Activity’s Effects On The Muscle-bone Unit In Active Young Adults. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2018 National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2018.
       
    17. Higgins S, Wittstein MW, Vallabhajosula S. A comparison of accelerometer wear sites in the assessment of skeletal loading. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine 2018 Regional Conference, Greenville, SC, February 2019.
       
    18. Klaiman S, Ginsberg AA, Higgins S, Lu CM, Gallicchio G, Elue E, Teso K, Bah M, Hatfield BD. The effects of psyching on motor cortex activation and motor unit recruitment. Poster presentation at the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine 2018 Regional Conference, Greenville, SC, February 2019.
       
    19. Erickson J, Fedewa MV, Hathaway ED, Higgins S, Evans EM, Schmidt MD. Utility of Anthropometric Indices to Estimate Changes in Adiposity in Response to an Exercise Intervention. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2019 National Conference, Orlando, FC, May 2019.
       
    20. Sokolowski CM, Higgins S, Vishwanathan M, Schmidt MD, Lewis RD, Evans EM. Associations Among Dietary Protein Intake, Physical Activity, and Muscle Quality in Young Adults. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2019 National Conference, Orlando, FC, May 2019.
       
    21. Higgins S, Vallabhajosula S. A validation and comparison of Actigraph GT9X Link and RunScribe Plus™ accelerometers for the estimation of skeletal loading during habitual physical activities. Poster presentation at the International Society of Posture and Gait Research 2019 World Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2019.
       
    22. Higgins S, Stoner L, Lubransky A, Howe A, Wong JE, Black K, Skidmore P. Social Jetlag is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Male but not Female Adolescents. Circulation. 2020; 141:AP546. DOI: 10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.P546. Poster presentation at the American Heart Association Epi|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2020, Phoenix, AZ, March 2020.
       
    23. Higgins S, Bennett E, Blackmon R. Classification Accuracy of Wrist-Worn Physical Activity Monitors Relative to Free-Living Heart Rate. Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2020 National Conference, San Francisco, CA, May 2020.
       
    24. Smith AN, Williams ER, Das BD, Fedewa MV, Evans EM, Higgins S. Sex-Specific Correlates of Metabolic Syndrome Risk in College Students. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2020; 52 (7S): 958. DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000685968.11527.4e Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2020 National Conference, San Francisco, CA, May 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID-19).
       
    25. Bennett E, Higgins LQ, Higgins S. Sleep Quality is Associated with Nighttime Heart Rate Variability in Young Adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2020; 52 (7S). Poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine 2020 National Conference, San Francisco, CA, May 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID-19). 
       
    26. Holmes G, Higgins S. Behavioral mechanisms through which suboptimal sleep is related to cardiometabolic risk factors. Oral presentation at the Carolina Exercise Science and Kinesiology Research Symposium Presentation, Virtual, March 2021. (Awarded best-in-category: Community Hearth)
       
    27. Smith AN, Higgins LQ, Higgins S. Behavior Change Trajectories and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factor Clustering During the Transition to College: A Pilot Study. Asynchronous oral presentation at the Carolina Exercise Science and Kinesiology Research Symposium Presentation, Virtual, March 2021. (Selected as a Finalist for best-in-category: Community Health)
       
    28. Higgins S, Stoner L, Black K, Wong JE, Meredith-Jones K, Quigg R, Skidmore PML. Social Jetlag is Associated with Obesity-related Outcomes in 9-11-Year-Old Children, Independent of Other Sleep Characteristics. Asynchronous oral presentation at the American Heart Association Epi|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2021, Virtual, May 2021.