Dissertation defense for Rachel Sanders

Title: Exploring the Link Between Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Behavior Guidelines and Metabolic Syndrome in a Diverse Sample of Postmenopausal Women

Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual (Zoom). For access, please contact Jasmine Dixson at jad324@pitt.edu

Committee Chair: Christopher E. Kline, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh

Committee Members:

• Kelliann K. Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh
• Sharon E. Taverno Ross, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh
• Sanjay R. Patel, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
• Kara M. Whitaker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology, University of Iowa

Abstract Introduction: The 24-hour movement framework considers how sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), and physical activity work together to influence health. Although this approach has gained attention, little is known about how postmenopausal women meet 24-hour movement guidelines or how their movement patterns relate to metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components.

Purpose: To examine patterns and correlates of adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines and assess how guideline adherence and time reallocations among movement behaviors relate to MetS in postmenopausal women.