Biography
Yuri Feito is an assistant professor of Exercise Science at Kennesaw State University. As an instructor, he emphasizes the 'bridging' of theory and practice by incorporating real-life scenarios into every course taught.
Feito has earned certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP) and Clinical Exercise Specialist (CES). He has been involved in the medical fitness industry as a practitioner and administrator for nearly a decade.
While earning his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, he worked alongside renowned scholars in the field of physical activity monitoring (David R. Bassett, Jr), body composition assessment (Dixie L. Thompson) and exercise physiology (Edward Howley).
Feito’s previous research included the use of objective measures to promote and measure physical activity among individuals of all ages. His current work focuses on understanding the metabolic and cardiovascular responses to CrossFit training and its potential role to reduce chronic disease. In addition, his research team is investigating behavioral patterns that influence participation in this exercise modality.
Industry Expertise (2)
Education/Learning
Health and Wellness
Areas of Expertise (15)
Exercise Physiology
Health Promotion
Public Speaking
Health Education
Fitness Training
Rehabilitation
Nutrition
Public Health
Sports Medicine
Injury Prevention
Exercise Prescription
CrossFit
Physical Activity
Exercise and chronic diseases
CrossFit Training
Accomplishments (5)
Fellow (professional)
2015-01-01
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Advances in Geriatric Faculty Education (AGE) Program Scholar (professional)
2011-01-01
Awarded by University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Ambassador Jean Wilkowski International Fellowship (professional)
2011-01-01
Awarded by Barry University
Outstanding Scholarship Award (personal)
2011-01-03
Barry University
Public Health Research Award (professional)
2007-01-01
Nova Southeastern University
Education (4)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville: Ph.D., Kinesiology and Sports Sciences 2010
Nova Southeastern University: MPH, Health Promotion 2007
Barry University: M.S., Clinical Exercise Physiology 2001
Barry University: B.S., Exercise Science 2000
Affiliations (3)
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute : PRIDE-CVD Scholar
- American College of Sports Medicine : Co-Editor Certified News
- American College of Sports Medicine : Consultant
Media Appearances (10)
9 Things to Know if You Want to Try Crossfit
Today
2016-07-15
"Yet a lot of people associate CrossFit with an increased risk for injury. I chatted with Yuri Feito, Ph.D, assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, about this..."
When exercise is competitive, winning isn't always the goal
The Baltimore Sun
2016-03-23
Certainly, competition doesn't work for everyone, and people will only exercise regularly if they find something they enjoy doing, said Yuri Feito, an assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Georgia who has studied CrossFit...
How short bursts of high-intensity exercise could keep you (relatively) fit
The Washington Post
2016-03-02
“The benefits [of HIIT] are many, from reduced body composition to increased aerobic capacity, but one of the best benefits is the short amount of time required,” said Yuri Feito, an assistant professor of Exercise Science at Kennesaw State University. “Considering the vast majority of individuals typically cite 'lack of time' as the primary reason why they do not exercise, HIIT provides a great alternative to those 'long and boring' workouts that most people dread.”...
CrossFit for Kids? Experts Weigh the Benefits and Risks
LiveScience online
2016-03-01
CrossFit can be a safe training program, but kids should not be doing an adult workout, said Yuri Feito, an assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, who is currently doing research on the effects of CrossFit in adults. Children need to do kid-specific movements, he said, and this comes down to how well the instructor scales down the basic movements of the workout for the ages and skills of the children in the class, he explained.
Did You Do Today's Workout? Inside the CrossFit Craze
Live Science
2016-02-26
"People who do CrossFit are open about it. They talk about it a lot. That's what the community builds," said Yuri Feito, an assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, who is currently conducting research on the physiological and emotional effects of CrossFit...
Maximize the Rest Periods of Interval Training to Get Fit Faster
Shape
2015-12-02
To understand why that is, you first have to understand what's going on in your body during the intense parts of a HIIT workout: Those tough work periods are actually changing the chemical composition of your muscles, making them more powerful and giving them more endurance, says Yuri Feito, Ph.D., an assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. When you push hard, you burn through your stores of ATP (the fuel your body makes from food), and you train your body to use more fat and your heart to be more powerful...
Is CrossFit Dangerous?
Bloomberg Businessweek print
2014-09-04
Yuri Feito, who teaches exercise science at Kennesaw State University and studies CrossFit, argues that the workout has no equal in terms of getting people to stick around. “Spinning, Zumba, Insanity, P90X—none of these programs have been able to do, at least from an adherence standpoint, what CrossFit does,” he says. “People start Zumba, they do it for two months, and then they’re like, ‘Oh, whoa, it’s just dancing.’ ” Feito is close to publishing research into why CrossFit generates so much loyalty. He’s found that men like the competition, women like the weight reduction, and everyone likes the camaraderie. “People call it a cult,” he says, “but it’s creating a community, and people adhere to that.”
Putting Your Fitness Tech Data to Work
Outside Magazine print
2014-05-21
“The best you can say about the data is that it can be used to draw useful conclusions about the people who are using each app, like Strava,” says Yuri Feito, an assistant professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Still, says Feito, “Statistically, the level of information involved with Strava dwarfs anything that a research lab could pull together on a survey of cyclists. That shouldn’t be ignored.”
Too Much Pain for CrossFit's Gain?
Men's Journal print
2014-04-01
New research is putting numbers to anecdotal evidence of CrossFit's risks. Yuri Feito, a professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University in Georgia (and a CrossFitter himself), analyzed data from 737 CrossFit participants and found that 51 percent had experienced an injury in the year prior – from minor sprains to muscle tears to broken fingers. Of those, 10 to 15 percent warranted a trip to the hospital. Some injuries, he says, resulted from "overtraining – too many reps, not enough recovery."
Crossing Swords with Crossfit
Outside Magazine online
2013-12-19
Perhaps the most comprehensive and persuasive research I came across was an as-yet unpublished survey conducted by professor Yuri Feito, a physiologist at Georgia’s Kennesaw State University. Feito queried 733 CrossFitters, and found that half of them reported some kind of CrossFit-related injury in the previous year. The problems ran the gamut, from torn blisters to a ruptured Achilles tendon and torn knee cartilage. Roughly 15 percent of the injuries were serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, says Feito.
Recent Papers (6)
Effects of a high-intensity interval training program vs. moderate-intensity continuous training program on maximal oxygen uptake and blood pressure in healthy adults
Trials
2016-08-18
Participation in aerobic exercise generates increased cardiorespiratory fitness, which results in a protective factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. High-intensity interval training might cause higher increases in cardiorespiratory fitness in comparison with moderate-intensity continuous training; nevertheless, current evidence is not conclusive. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the effect of high-intensity interval training with total load duration of 7.5 min per session.
Evaluation of ActiGraph’s Low-Frequency Filter in Laboratory and Free-Living Environments
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
2015 The ActiGraph (AG) is the most commonly used research-grade physical activity monitor. Although several investigators have examined the effects of the “low-frequency extension” (LFE) on step counts in the free-living environment, a direct comparison with a valid criterion method is lacking. We sought to determine the accuracy of the AG’s LFE to measure step counts during laboratory and free-living activities in two versions of the device (GT1M and GT3X).
Programming Resistance Training for Clients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Strength and Conditioning Journal
2013 Implementing a resistance training program for clients with type 2 diabetes poses some difficulties, but with the proper design, these clients can attain significant health and fitness benefits. Resistance training programs should be progressive in intensity and individualized for each client to improve glycemic control, lean body mass, and strength.
Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Resistance Training Effects
Strength and Conditioning Journal
2013 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2dm) is an evolving chronic health condition. Those with the disease are predisposed to other health issues, which makes disease management difficult. However, resistance training has proven effective in the management of t2dm, specifically by improving glycemic control in these individuals.
Effect of BMI on Pedometers in Early Adolescents under Free-Living Conditions
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
2013 The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine whether the New Lifestyles NL-2000 (NL) and the Digi-Walker SW-200 (DW) (New Lifestyles, Inc., Lees Summit, MO) yield similar step counts as compared with an ankle-mounted criterion, StepWatch 3, when worn by early adolescents in a free-living environment and 2) to study whether BMI percentile affects the accuracy of waist-mounted pedometers in adolescents.
Effects of Body Mass Index and Step Rate on Pedometer Error in a Free-Living Environment
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
2011 The purposes of this study were to determine whether the New Lifestyles NL-2000 (NL) and the Digi-Walker SW-200 (DW) yield similar daily step counts as compared with the StepWatch 3 (SW) in a free-living environment and to determine whether pedometer error is influenced by body mass index (BMI) and speed of walking.