March Feature Researcher Profile: Aurélie Baillot, Ph.D.

Since my first year of university training, I knew that I want to be a researcher because of my thirst for learning, my endless curiosity and my strong desire to share that knowledge,” says Dr. Aurélie Baillot. During university, Dr. Baillot was a national level volleyball player in France, this passion led her first to a training in sport performance, but quickly she became interested in physical activity and health. She wanted to use her expertise in physical activity to help people living with chronic disease for whom physical activity could be a great challenge to help improve their health. Dr. Aurélie Baillot is currently a professor at the University of Quebec in Outaouais. Her research is focused on improving the management of physical activity for people living with severe obesity (whether or not they decide to undergo bariatric surgery). ““My current projects investigate the effects of regular physical activity on physical and mental health, but also how excess skin (post bariatric surgery) has an impact on bias and stigma for people living with severe obesity ”explains Dr. Baillot. The major research gap she is interested in advancing knowledge about is physical inactivity and severe obesity.