Sport and Exercise Science

Profile

Background

Dr Clare Hencken has been a member of the department since 2002. She obtained her BSc degree from Exeter University and her MSc and PhD from the University of Alabama (1995 and 2000). Clare is one of 8 ISAK level 3 anthropometrists in the UK and she applies her research towards the health industry and elite athletes. Clare has worked extensively with professional athletes in both the US and the UK, most notably the NFL in the US and premiership footballers in the UK. Clare’s PhD combined anthropometry, nutrition and hydration in an applied setting. Clare enjoys walking her dogs with her children on the beach.

Teaching Responsibilities

Clare currently teaches Kinanthropometry and research methods on our undergraduate and postgraduate degree pathways. She is unit coordinator for Research methods (Year 2), Kinanthropometry, (year 3) for the undergraduate programmes and unit co-ordinator for all the research based units on the post graduate taught courses (Research applications, project proposal and the MSc project). Clare also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and research projects.

Research Interests

Clare’s research focuses on health optimisation with an emphasis on solutions for weight management, combining anthropometrical measures, measures of metabolic syndrome, nutrition and physical activity. This work is applied to the NHS, professional sport and corporate settings (CSR). Clare has also been trained by the University of Portsmouth in business and commercialisation of research and she is director of a University spin out company, Bodymorph Ltd. Clare holds several prominent committee memberships in the local area, most notably, the Portsmouth Obesity Strategy, and the Portsmouth Healthy Towns board Clare has recently been asked to consult on the Government’s Tackling Obesity agenda.

Recent Publications

More recent publications

Publications before 2008

Hencken, C.L (2003) Anthropometric measurement in elite football players. Conference proceedings. BASES “The Cutting edge” at Sheffield Hallam University September 6th 2003.

Hencken, C.L & White, C (2006) Anthropometrical assessment of premiership soccer players with relation to playing position. European Journal of Sports Science, 6 (4): 205-211.

Hencken, C.L & White, C (2005) Proportionality across playing position in professional premiership soccer players Journal of Sport Science: In review

Hencken, C.L, Harvey, K & Hedger, W (2005) The influence of somatotyping on the changes in body composition of overweight and obese women following a 3-month dietary and/or exercise intervention. Conference proceedings UKPHA 13th Annual public health forum Renewing Public Health: Renaissance and Responsibility 5-7th April 2005 p106

Funding

Promising Researcher’s Fund- (2006) £75K

CommercialiSE- (2007) £50K

Portsmouth NHS/Portsmouth City Council- (2008-2010) £45K (Evaluation of childhood weight management programmes in Portsmouth).

DoH (2009-2011) £200K Evaluation of the Portsmouth Healthy Towns project.