Jim Annesi, PhD, joined the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta in early 2000 as director of wellness advancement. He has research and applied backgrounds in the fields of health psychology, behavioral medicine, applied behavior analysis, and human performance enhancement. He has been on the faculties of Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey and The United States Sports Academy and has held appointments with the Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems, Elizabeth General Medical Center, Rainbeau Counseling and Research Centers, and Enhanced Performance Technologies.
Annesi’s current research program focuses on behavior change methods applied to exercise adherence and weight loss maintenance, as well as the effects of physical activity on depression, anxiety, self-image, and other mental health and quality-of-life factors. In addition to authoring more than 100 research studies, chapters, and articles for scientific and professional publications, Annesi has written three books describing research-to-practice methods designed to help empower individuals to better adopt and maintain healthy behaviors.
Annesi’s evidence-based protocols are applied within a variety of health care and preventive medicine settings in the U.S., U.K., Italy, Japan, and Canada and have demonstrated substantial improvements in the maintenance of physical activity programs, and resulting physical and mental health, especially for those who were previously inactive. His systematic approach to facilitating and sustaining health behavior change has recently been deployed in over more than YMCAs in the U.S. and 55 wellness facilities in the U.K. and Italy.
Annesi continues to serve in advisory capacities to CBS News, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The London Times, as well as a number of health promotion organizations and research publications.