Biography
Dr. Tassitano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research program, built on 15 years of experience in physical activity epidemiology research, focuses on reducing disparities among low-income populations in Brazil. Ongoing projects include a mixed-methods approach to identify, test, and implement feasible and sustainable solutions that promote physical activity opportunities in structured settings, such as childcare and schools. Dr. Tassitano is a founding member of the Brazilian Society of Physical Activity and Health (SBAFS) and a member of the South American Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Network (SAPASEN). He also serves as a senior editor at the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Community Health
Recent Publications
Martins, J., Varela, A. R., Costa, J., Onofre, M., Dudley, D., Cristão, R., Pratt, M., Hallal, P. C., & Tassitano, R. (2025). Worldwide Policy, Surveillance, and Research on Physical Education and School-Based Physical Activity: The Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) Conceptual Framework and Research Protocol. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 22(4), 444-456. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0170
Matias, T. S., de Oliveira Araujo, R. H., Tassitano, R. M., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Sadarangani, K. P., Ywgne, J., Gaia, J. W. P., de Jesus, G. M., & da Silva, D. R. P. (2025). Clustering of obesogenic behaviours amongst 140 052 South American adolescents: a harmonized meta-analysis of national health surveys. Journal of Public Health, Article fdae319. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae319
Araujo, R. H. O., Werneck, A. O., Martins, C. L., Barboza, L. L., Tassitano, R. M., Aguilar-Farias, N., Jesus, G. M., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Tesler, R., Oyeyemi, A. L., Silva, E. C. M., Weaver, R. G., Tremblay, M. S., Brazo-Sayavera, J., Mielke, G. I., & Silva, D. R. P. (2024). Global prevalence and gender inequalities in at least 60 min of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity 1 or more days per week: An analysis with 707,616 adolescents. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 13(5), 709-716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2023.10.011
Araujo, R. H. O., Werneck, A. O., Weaver, R. G., Tassitano, R. M., Szwarcwald, C. L., Jesus, G. M., Malta, D. C., Brazo-Sayavera, J., Mielke, G. I., Tremblay, M. S., & Silva, D. R. P. (2024). No or Low Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity: Focusing on the Least Active as an Additional Approach for Physical Activity Surveillance. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(6), 536-540. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0654
Cathro, A., Felix, D. M., Leão, O. A. D. A., Lopez, S., Lu, Z., Machado, P. G., Morales, D., Neto, F. T. D. P., Selzer, A., Tang, A., Tassitano, R. M., Tenório, M. C. M., Zhang, K., Zhao, W., & Hallal, P. C. (2024). The Legacy of an All-Around Physical Activity and Health Scientist: Harold W. (Bill) Kohl III. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(4), 309-310. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0150