Margie Davenport, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

exercise pregnancy postpartum gender equity health

About

Christenson Professor in Active Healthy Living

Degrees
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Physiology and Pharmacology), University of Calgary, 2012
PhD (Integrative Physiology), University of Western Ontario, 2010
BSc (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario, 2005
BSc (Biology), Trent University, 2001

Background
My graduate work was focused on the use of prenatal exercise to promote cardiometabolic health in women diagnosed with, or at risk for gestational diabetes. This work led to the development of target heart rate zones for pregnant women which are included in current national and international guidelines for exercise. My postdoctoral fellowship investigated the impact of exercise on cerebrovascular function in older adults with a focus on post-menopausal women.

Research

As an exercise physiologist and former National Team athlete, I have dedicated my career to a single mission: closing the gender data gap to ensure every person has the evidence-based research to move, train, and excel through parenthood. I hold the Christenson Professorship in Active Healthy Living at the University of Alberta, where I lead the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health. Since establishing this program in 2013, my work has been driven by a commitment to gender equity, specifically addressing the historical and systemic exclusion of pregnant and postpartum people from sports science and medical guidelines.

My leadership in this field is defined by transforming evidence into global policy. I had the privilege of chairing the 2019 and 2025 Canadian Guidelines for Physical Activity, as well as the 2026 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement on Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum in Athletes. These efforts led to the creation of the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy and Postpartum, and the ACSM/CSEP Pre & Postnatal Exercise Specialization, tools that have fundamentally changed how health and fitness professionals support their clients.

Beyond policy, I am a researcher at heart. With over 200 published manuscripts, I have partnered with leading international organizations including FIFA, World Health Organization, Women's Tennis Assocation, and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics to dismantle barriers to participation. While my NSERC, CIHR and SSHRC-funded lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to monitor maternal-fetal hemodynamics and neurovascular control, my work also takes me into the field, from remote regions like Everest to the elite training grounds of professional athletes.

We are now entering a new frontier. My current research is focused on shattering "taboo" boundaries for both recreational and elite athletes, investigating the safety and impact of high-intensity training, heavy lifting, and contact sports during and after pregnancy. Simultaneously, I continue to lead vital research into complex pregnancies—such as those involving congenital heart disease, disability and type 1 diabetes—to protect the cardio-metabolic health of both mother and baby.

I don't just study movement; I advocate for a world where every individual has the evidence-based support they need to remain active, healthy, and empowered through all stages of life.

Instagram: @drmargiedavenport

Teaching

KIN 334

Dr. Davenport is currently accepting applications for graduate (PhD and MSc) and post-graduate students.

KIN 334 - Physical Activity, Nutrition and Energy Balance

Emphasis on the components of energy expenditure and energy intake. Other topics include the regulation of body composition, nutritional requirements for athletes, eating disorders, and obesity. Prerequisite: KIN 200. Note: Credit will be granted for only one of KIN 334 or PEDS 334.

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