Dr Charlotte Kerner
Senior Lecturer in Sport Health and Exercise Sciences

Summary

Dr Charlotte Kerner is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences whose research examines the social and psychological factors shaping physical activity, body image, and health behaviours. Her research interests have developed over time from an initial focus on physical activity motivation, learning environments, and young people’s experiences of physical education, towards a broader exploration of how digital technologies and contemporary health cultures influence physical activity, wellbeing, and body image.

Early work focused on motivation for physical activity participation, particularly among young people, and explored how educational environments can support positive engagement in physical activity. This research also examined the role of physical education and body image interventions in promoting positive experiences of physical activity.

Building on these interests, Dr Kerner’s more recent research explores the role of digital technologies, including health and fitness social media and wearable technologies, in shaping body image, exercise motivation, and health behaviours across different populations.

Her current work focuses particularly on the social, behavioural, and psychological implications of GLP-1 medications and weight loss injectables. Recent publications examine social media representations of medications such as Mounjaro on TikTok, while current projects explore how GLP-1 medications influence body image and physical activity behaviours. Her emerging research interests also include visible differences and appearance-related experiences, including understanding how physical activity is experienced by those with visible difference conditions and the role it can play in promoting quality of life within these populations.

Qualifications

• PhD. University of Bedfordshire 
• PgCert in Physical Activity and Well-being. University of Bedfordshire
• BSc (Hons) Sports Studies. De Montfort University

Responsibility

• Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) Programme Leader