Wesley J. Tucker, Ph.D., RD

Contact

wtucker1@twu.edu
713-794-2379
Houston 7018

View CV

Biography

Wesley J Tucker, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Texas Woman's University Institute of Health Sciences in Houston, Texas. He has a strong research background in the areas of Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Applied Cardiovascular Physiology. Prior to starting as faculty at TWU, Dr. Tucker received an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Training Grant to investigate the peripheral mechanisms responsible for exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. At TWU, Dr. Tucker's research program will continue this line of research with a specific focus on the biological mechanisms responsible for the reductions in cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals at risk for or with heart failure. In addition, He will investigate the efficacy of novel diet and exercise interventions to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and other important clinical endpoints in individuals at risk for or with heart failure. Dr. Tucker also has research interests in overfeeding, insulin resistance, physical inactivity, and functional foods.

Education

Ph.D., Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 2016
M.S., Human Nutrition, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, 2012
B.S., Nutrition Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 2009

Research Interests

Heart Failure Pathophysiology; Obesity; Dietary Interventions; Functional Foods; Exercise Training; Exercise Testing; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Vascular Biology; Skeletal Muscle Function; Cardiac Function

Latest Articles

Clinical Considerations and Exercise Responses of Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction: What Have We Learned in 20 Years?
Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology (2020)
Peter H Brubaker, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky

Exercise Training Effects on the Relationship of Physical Function and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Heart Failure Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (2020)
Peter H Brubaker, Teagan Avis, W. Jack Rejeski, Shannon E Mihalko, Wesley J. Tucker

Near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy tracks changes in oxygen delivery and utilization during exercise with and without isolated arterial compression
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2020)
Wesley J. Tucker, Ryan Rosenberry, Darian Trojacek, Belinda Sanchez, Robert F. Bentley

Impact of bariatric surgery on cerebral vascular reactivity and cognitive function: A non-randomized pilot study.
Pilot and Feasibility Studies (2020)
Wesley J. Tucker, Binu P. Thomas, Nancy Puzziferri, T. Jake Samuel, Vlad G. Zaha

Prevalence and Social Determinants of Food Insecurity among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Nutrients (Online) (2020)
Meghan R Owens, Francilia Brito-Silva, Tracie Kirkland, Carolyn E Moore, Kathleen E Davis

Pathophysiology of exercise intolerance and its treatment with exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (2020)
Wesley J. Tucker, Siddhartha S Angadi, Mark J Haykowsky, Michael D Nelson, Satyam Sarma

Studies into the determinants of skeletal muscle oxygen consumption: Novel insight from near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy.
The Journal of Physiology (2019)
Wesley J. Tucker, Ryan Rosenberry, Darian Trojacek, Houda H Chamseddine, Carrie A Arena-Marshall

Determinants of skeletal muscle oxygen consumption assessed by near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy during incremental handgrip exercise.
Journal of Applied Physiology (2019)
Ryan Rosenberry, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky, Darian Trojacek, Houda H Chamseddine

Editorial ‒ Improving exercise capacity in recent heart transplant recipients: Can a HIT Result in a Home Run?
Circulation (2019)
Wesley J. Tucker, Peter H Brubaker, Mark J Haykowsky

Association of exercise and swimming goggles with modulation of cerebro-ocular hemodynamics and pressures in a model of Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome.
JAMA Ophthalmology (2019)
Jessica M Scott, Wesley J. Tucker, David Martin, James B Crowell, Elizabeth Goetchius

Lamina Cribrosa Pore Diameter and Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome-Reply to Letter To The Editor
JAMA Ophthalmology (2019)
Jessica M Scott, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky

Meta-analysis of exercise training on left ventricular ejection fraction in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A 10‒year update.
Progress in Cardiovascular Disease (2019)
Wesley J. Tucker, Rhys I Beaudry, Yuanyuan Liang, Alexander M Clark, Corey R Tomczak

Editorial ‒ Predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness improvements with cardiac rehabilitation: Lower baseline fitness with the most to gain, gains the most.
Canadian Journal of Cardiology (2018)
Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky

Fast-food meal reduces peripheral artery endothelial function but not cerebral vascular hypercapnic reactivity in healthy young men.
Physiological Reports (2018)
Patik C Patik, Wesley J. Tucker, Bryon M Curtis, Michael D Nelson, Aida Nasirian

Impaired exercise tolerance in heart failure: Role of skeletal muscle morphology and function.
Current Heart Failure Reports (2018)
Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky, Yaewon Seo, Elisa Stehling, Daniel E Forman

High-intensity interval exercise attenuates, but does not eliminate, endothelial dysfunction after a fast-food meal.
American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (2018)
Wesley J. Tucker, Brandon J Sawyer, Catherine L Jarrett, Dharini M Bhammar, Justin R Ryder

Mechanisms of the improvement in peak VO2 with exercise training in heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction.
Heart, Lung and Circulation (2018)
Wesley J. Tucker, Cecilia C Lijauco, Christopher M Hearon Jnr, Siddhartha S Angadi, Michael D Nelson

Performance limitations in heart transplant recipients
Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews (2018)
Wesley J. Tucker, Rhys I Beaudry, Thomas Jake Samuel, Michael D Nelson, Martin Halle

Cycling efficiency and energy cost of walking in young and older adults.
Journal of Applied Physiology (2018)
Glenn A Gaesser, Wesley J. Tucker, Brandon J Sawyer, Dharini M Bhammar, Siddhartha S Angadi

Exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: A feasibility study and meta-analysis.
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2018)
Rhys I Beaudry, Thomas Jake Samuel, Jing Wang, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky

Meta-analysis of exercise training on vascular endothelial function in cancer survivors.
Integrative Cancer Therapies (2018)
Rhys I Beaudry, Yuanyuan Liang, Steven T Boyton, Wesley J. Tucker, Robert Matthew Brothers

Age-related microvascular dysfunction: novel insight from near-infrared spectroscopy.
Experimental Physiology (2018)
Ryan Rosenberry, Madison Munson, Susie Chung, Thomas Jake Samuel, Jordan Patik

Breaks in sitting time: Effects on continuously monitored glucose and blood pressure.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2017)
Dharini M Bhammar, Brandon J Sawyer, Wesley J. Tucker, Glenn A Gaesser

Adaptive goal setting and financial incentives: a 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial to increase adults' physical activity.
BMC Public Health (2017)
Marc A Adams, Jane C Hurley, Michael Todd, Nishat Bhuiyan, Catherine L Jarrett

The impact of exercise training on peak oxygen uptake and its determinants in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.
Cardiac Failure Review (2016)
Wesley J. Tucker, Michael D Nelson, Rhys I Beaudry, Martin Halle, Satyam Sarma

Excess postexercise oxygen consumption after high-intensity and sprint interval exercise, and continuous steady-state exercise.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2016)
Wesley J. Tucker, Siddhartha S Angadi, Glenn A Gaesser

Validity of SenseWear® Armband v5.2 and v2.2 for estimating energy expenditure.
Journal of Sports Sciences (2016)
Dharini M Bhammar, Brandon J Sawyer, Wesley J. Tucker, Jung-Min Lee, Glenn A Gaesser

Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on endothelial function and cardiometabolic risk markers in obese adults.
Journal of Applied Physiology (2016)
Brandon J Sawyer, Wesley J. Tucker, Dharini M Bhammar, Justin R Ryder, Karen L Sweazea

Physiological Responses to High-Intensity Interval Exercise Differing in Interval Duration.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2015)
Wesley J. Tucker, Brandon J Sawyer, Catherine L Jarrett, Dharini M Bhammar, Glenn A Gaesser

Validity and reliability of Nike+ Fuelband for estimating activity energy expenditure.
BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. (2015)
Wesley J. Tucker, Dharini M Bhammar, Brandon J Sawyer, Matthew P Buman, Glenn A Gaesser

Using verification phase for determination of VO2max in obese, sedentary adults.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (2015)
Brandon J Sawyer, Wesley J. Tucker, Dharini M Bhammar, Glenn A Gaesser

The Walking Interventions Through Texting (WalkIT) Trial: Rationale, Design, and Protocol for a Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial of Adaptive Interventions for Overweight and Obese, Inactive Adults.
JMIR Research Protocols (2015)
Jane C Hurley, Kevin E Hollingshead, Michael Todd, Catherine L Jarrett, Wesley J. Tucker

Fitness versus Fatness: Which Influences Health and Mortality Risk the Most?
Current Sports Medicine Reports (2015)
Glenn A Gaesser, Wesley J. Tucker, Catherine L Jarrett, Siddhartha S Angadi

High-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous exercise training in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a pilot study.
Journal of Applied Physiology (2015)
Siddhartha S Angadi, Farouk Mookadam, Chong D Lee, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky

Chapters

Exercise in specific diseases: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
in Textbook of Sports & Exercise Cardiology | Springer (2020)
Verena Heinicke, Wesley J. Tucker, Mark J Haykowsky, Martin Halle

Exercise rehabilitation for older breast cancer survivors
in Handbook of Rehabilitation in Older Adults | Springer (2019)
Mark J Haykowsky, Rhys I Beaudry, Wesley J. Tucker

Exercise and diet improve cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese individuals without weight loss.
in Glucose Intake and Utilization in Pre-diabetes and Diabetes: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease | Academic Press (2014)
Glenn A Gaesser, Siddhartha S Angadi, Brandon J Sawyer, Wesley J. Tucker, Catherine L Jarrett

Dietary mushrooms: An excellent source for nutraceuticals capable of reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
in Nutrigenomics: Its Application to the Development of Nutraceuticals and Cosmeceuticals. | Nova Publishers (2013)
Wesley J. Tucker, Siddhartha S. Angadi, Keith R. Martin

Externally Funded Projects

American Heart Association Postdoctoral Training Grant - Skeletal muscle metaboreflex as a mechanism of exercise intolerance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction Year 1 of 1
American Heart Association | $106,532.00 | 2019
Role: Principal Investigator

Internally Funded Projects

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity and Diet Quality in TWU Students
TWU Small Grants Program | $750.00 | 2020
Research Grant

Novel Lifestyle Intervention to Improve Exercise Tolerance, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Obese Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study
TWU Research Enhancement Program | $0.00 | 2020
Research Grant

The Feasibility of Patient Self-Care Management using an mHealth App in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
TWU Proposal Development Grant | 2020
Research Grant

TWU Higher Education Fund (HEF) Equipment Grant
TWU | $77,100.00 | 2019
Research Grant

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• American Physiological Society (APS)
• Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• The Obesity Society