Inaugural Lectures
Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Join Professor Theocharis Ispoglou as he explores why physical activity, exercise and nutrition matter: fuelling healthier, stronger lives at every age, and reshaping how we think about ageing.
In this inaugural professorial lecture, Professor Theocharis Ispoglou will reflect on his personal and academic journey – from growing up in rural Greece where physical activity was part and parcel of daily life, to living by the belief 'don’t tell me what I cannot do' and celebrating the professorship as one of his proudest milestones.
He will show how moving more, building strength and eating well can protect muscle, prevent sarcopenia and support lifelong health. Drawing on studies of protein nutrition, resistance training and nutritional supplementation, Professor Ispoglou will highlight the importance of non-pharmacological approaches to promoting healthy ageing, and show how simple, evidence-based strategies can improve lives and re-shape the experience of ageing.
As Director of the Centre for Active Lifestyles and Healthy Ageing, he will also set out his vision for a society that embraces physically active lifestyles as a path to ageing well.
This lecture is part of Leeds Beckett University's inaugural professional lecture series.
Indicative Publication List – Journal Articles only and in chronological order
- Aldrich, L., Ispoglou, T., Prokopidis, K., Alqallaf, J., Wilson, O., & Stavropoulos‐Kalinoglou, A. (2025). Comment on ‘Acute Sarcopenia: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis on Its Incidence and Muscle Parameter Shifts During Hospitalisation’ by Aldrich et al.: The Authors' Reply. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 16(3), 1-2.
- Prokopidis, K., Irlik, K., Ispoglou, T., Ferentinos, P., Mitropoulos, A., Schlögl, M., . . . Lip, G. Y. H. (2025). Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of HFrEF and HFpEF Disparities in VO2peak and 6-Minute Walk Distance. European Heart Journal Open, 5(3), 1-10.
- Ispoglou, T., C. Norton, and D. McCullough, (2025) Editorial: Preventing sarcopenia and promoting musculoskeletal health in middle-aged adults: the role of exercise and nutrition. Front Sports Act Living. 7: p. 1-04.
- Aldrich L, Ispoglou T, Prokopidis K, Alqallaf J, Wilson O, (2025) Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou A. Acute Sarcopenia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Its Incidence and Muscle Parameter Shifts During Hospitalisation. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle,16:e13662. doi:10.1002/jcsm.13662
- Ispoglou, T., McCullough, D., Windle, A., Nair, S., Cox, N., White, H., Burke, D., Kanatas, A. and Prokopidis, K. (2024) Addressing cancer anorexia-cachexia in older patients: Potential therapeutic strategies and molecular pathways. Clin Nutr, 43 (2) Feb, pp. 552-566.
- Ispoglou, T., Wilson, O., McCullough, D., Aldrich, L., Ferentinos, P., Lyall, G., Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou, A., Duckworth, L., Brown, M. A., Sutton, L., Potts, A. J., Archbold, V., Hargreaves, J. and McKenna, J. (2023b) A Narrative Review of Non-Pharmacological Strategies for Managing Sarcopenia in Older Adults with Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases. Biology, 12 (7), pp. 892.
- Ispoglou, T., Ferentinos, P., Prokopidis, K., Blake, C., Aldrich, L., Elia, A., Lees, M. and Hind, K. (2023a) Exploring the impact of exercise and essential amino acid plus cholecalciferol supplementation on physical fitness and body composition in multiple sclerosis: A case study. Clinical Case Reports, 11 (6), pp. e7548.
- Giannos, P., Prokopidis, K., Church, D. D., Kirk, B., Morgan, P. T., Lochlainn, M. N., Macpherson, H., Woods, D. R. and Ispoglou, T. (2023) Associations of Bioavailable Serum Testosterone With Cognitive Function in Older Men: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 78 (1) Jan 26, pp. 151-157.
- Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Kirwan, R., Ispoglou, T., Galli, F., Witard, O. C., Triantafyllidis, K. K., Kechagias, K. S., Morwani-Mangnani, J., Ticinesi, A. and Isanejad, M. (2023) Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, 14 (1) Feb, pp. 30-44.
- Ferentinos, P., Tsakirides, C., Swainson, M., Davison, A., Martyn-St James, M. and Ispoglou, T. (2022a) The impact of different forms of exercise on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in cardiovascular and metabolic disease. European Journal of Applied Physiology,2022/01/12, pp.
- Ferentinos, P., Tsakirides, C., Swainson, M., Davison, A., Martyn-St James, M. and Ispoglou, T. (2022b) The impact of different forms of exercise on endothelial progenitor cells in healthy populations. Eur J Appl Physiol, 122 (7) Jul, pp. 1589-1625.
- Moore, C., Tsakirides, C., Swainson, M., Buckley, J. and Ispoglou, T. (2022) Exercise-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: Is a Little Encouragement Enough? Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 42 (6), pp. E97-E98.
- Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Ispoglou, T., Kirk, B., Witard, O. C., Dionyssiotis, Y., Scott, D., Macpherson, H., Duque, G. and Isanejad, M. (2022a) Handgrip strength is associated with learning and verbal fluency in older men without dementia: insights from the NHANES. GeroScience,2022/11/30, pp.
- Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Ispoglou, T., Witard, O. C. and Isanejad, M. (2022b) Dietary Fiber Intake is Associated with Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Med,Apr 1, pp.
- Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Witard, O. C., Peckham, D. and Ispoglou, T. (2022c) Aberrant mitochondrial homeostasis at the crossroad of musculoskeletal ageing and non-small cell lung cancer. PLoS One, 17 (9), pp. e0273766.
- Ispoglou, T., Witard, O. C., Duckworth, L. C. and Lees, M. J. (2021) The efficacy of essential amino acid supplementation for augmenting dietary protein intake in older adults: implications for skeletal muscle mass, strength and function. Proc Nutr Soc, 80 (2) May, pp. 230-242.
- Johnson, K. O., Holliday, A., Mistry, N., Cunniffe, A., Howard, K., Stanger, N., O'Mahoney, L. L., Matu, J. and Ispoglou, T. (2021) An Increase in Fat-Free Mass is Associated with Higher Appetite and Energy Intake in Older Adults: A Randomised Control Trial. Nutrients, 13 (1) Jan 1, pp.
- King, L., White, H., Clifton, I., Spoletini, G., Ispoglou, T. and Peckham, D. G. (2021) Nutritional status and intake in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) - a cross sectional study. Clin Nutr, 40 (9) Sep, pp. 5162-5168.
- Lees, M. J., Wilson, O. J., Webb, E. K., Traylor, D. A., Prior, T., Elia, A., Harlow, P. S., Black, A. D., Parker, P. J., Harris, N., Cooke, M., Balchin, C., Butterworth, M., Phillips, S. M. and Ispoglou, T. (2020) Novel Essential Amino Acid Supplements Following Resistance Exercise Induce Aminoacidemia and Enhance Anabolic Signaling Irrespective of Age: A Proof-of-Concept Trial. Nutrients, 12 (7) Jul 12, pp.
- Johnson, K. O., Shannon, O. M., Matu, J., Holliday, A., Ispoglou, T. and Deighton, K. (2020) Differences in circulating appetite-related hormone concentrations between younger and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Clinical And Experimental Research, 32 (7) Jul, pp. 1233-1244.
- Ibeggazene, S., Moore, C., Tsakirides, C., Swainson, M., Ispoglou, T. and Birch, K. (2020) UK cardiac rehabilitation fit for purpose? A community-based observational cohort study. BMJ Open, 10 (10) Oct 10, pp. e037980.
- Moore, C. E., Tsakirides, C., Rutherford, Z., Swainson, M. G., Birch, K. M., Ibeggazene, S. and Ispoglou, T. (2020) Dietary education provision within a cardiac rehabilitation programme in the UK: a pilot study. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 15 (8) 2020/08/02, pp. 1-12.
- Butterworth, M., Lees, M., Harlow, P., Hind, K., Duckworth, L. and Ispoglou, T. (2019) Αcute effects of essential amino acid gel-based and whey protein supplements on appetite and energy intake in older women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 44 (11) Nov, pp. 1141-1149.
- Lees, M. J., Wilson, O. J., Hind, K. and Ispoglou, T. (2019a) Muscle quality as a complementary prognostic tool in conjunction with sarcopenia assessment in younger and older individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol, 119 (5) May, pp. 1171-1181.
- Lees, M. J., Wilson, O. J., Hind, K. and Ispoglou, T. (2019b) Response: Muscle strength and function rather than muscle mass in sarcopenia. Eur J Appl Physiol, 119 (7) Jul, pp. 1673-1674.
- Matu, J., Gonzalez, J. T., Ispoglou, T., Duckworth, L. and Deighton, K. (2018) The effects of hypoxia on hunger perceptions, appetite-related hormone concentrations and energy intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Appetite, 125 Jun 1, pp. 98-108.
- Tieland, M., Franssen, R., Dullemeijer, C., van Dronkelaar, C., Kyung Kim, H., Ispoglou, T., Zhu, K., Prince, R. L., van Loon, L. J. C. and de Groot, L. (2017) The Impact of Dietary Protein or Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Strength in Elderly People: Individual Participant Data and Meta-Analysis of RCT's. Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging, 21 (9), pp. 994-1001.
- Ispoglou, T., Deighton, K., King, R. F., White, H. and Lees, M. (2017) Novel essential amino acid supplements enriched with L-leucine facilitate increased protein and energy intakes in older women: a randomised controlled trial. Nutrition Journal, 16 (1) Nov 28, pp. 75.
- Matu, J., Deighton, K., Ispoglou, T. and Duckworth, L. (2017a) The effect of moderate versus severe simulated altitude on appetite, gut hormones, energy intake and substrate oxidation in men. Appetite,Feb 28, pp.
- Matu, J., Deighton, K., Ispoglou, T., Shannon, O. M. and Duckworth, L. (2017b) A high fat breakfast attenuates the suppression of appetite and acylated ghrelin during exercise at simulated altitude. Physiol Behav, 179 Oct 1, pp. 353-360.
- Matu, J., O'Hara, J., Hill, N., Clarke, S., Boos, C., Newman, C., Holdsworth, D., Ispoglou, T., Duckworth, L., Woods, D., Mellor, A. and Deighton, K. (2017c) Changes in appetite, energy intake, body composition, and circulating ghrelin constituents during an incremental trekking ascent to high altitude. Eur J Appl Physiol, 117 (9) Sep, pp. 1917-1928.
- Nicholson, G., Ispoglou, T. and Bissas, A. (2016a) The impact of repetition mechanics on the adaptations resulting from strength-, hypertrophy- and cluster-type resistance training. Eur J Appl Physiol, 116 (10) Oct, pp. 1875-1888.
- Nicholson, G., Ispoglou, T. and Bissas, A. (2016b) Implementation of cluster training within resistance training: key challenges. UKSCA Online Learning Recourse, 17 (8), pp. 2-16.
- Board, L., Ispoglou, T. and Ingle, L. (2016) Validity of Telemetric-Derived Measures of Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review. Journal of Exercise Physiology, 19, pp. 64-84.
- Ispoglou, T., O'Kelly, D., Angelopoulou, A., Bargh, M., O'Hara, J. P. and Duckworth, L. C. (2015) Mouth Rinsing With Carbohydrate Solutions at the Postprandial State Fail to Improve Performance During Simulated Cycling Time Trials. J Strength Cond Res, 29 (8) Aug, pp. 2316-2325.
- Ispoglou, T., White, H., Preston, T., McElhone, S., McKenna, J. and Hind, K. (2016a) Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of L-Leucine-enriched amino-acid mixtures on body composition and physical performance in men and women aged 65-75 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70 (2) Feb, pp. 182-188.
- Ispoglou, T., Legget, D., Driscoll, J. and Kaldaridou, K. (2016b) Pilot Study investigating the Impact of Serial ingestion or Co-ingestion of Creatine and Sodium bicarbonate on Performance Following Completion of a Hypertrophy Type Resistance Exercise Workout. . Athens Journal of Sports, 3 (3), pp. 179-195.
- Nicholson, G., McLoughlin, G., Bissas, A. and Ispoglou, T. (2014) Do the acute biochemical and neuromuscular responses justify the classification of strength- and hypertrophy-type resistance exercise? J Strength Cond Res, 28 (11) Nov, pp. 3188-3199.
- Ispoglou, T., King, R. F., Polman, R. C. and Zanker, C. (2011) Daily L-leucine supplementation in novice trainees during a 12-week weight training program. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 6 (1) Mar, pp. 38-50.
Professor Theocharis Ispoglou
Professor
Theocharis Ispoglou is Professor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Director of the Centre for Active Lifestyles and Healthy Ageing at Leeds Beckett University. His work explores how physical activity, exercise and nutrition support healthy ageing and improve quality of life across the lifespan. Over more than two decades, his research has advanced understanding of muscle loss and sarcopenia, highlighted the value of resistance training as an underused strategy for health, and informed nutritional approaches in both clinical and community settings.
His projects focus on protein nutrition, resistance training, and other forms of physical activity with applications for older adults, patients, and women in midlife and menopause. This work connects laboratory insights with real-world needs and has been supported by major national funders as well as industry collaborations. Over his career, he has published widely and supervised 12 PhD students to completion across exercise, nutrition and healthy ageing.
Alongside his academic work, Ispoglou has built a strong record of knowledge exchange. He has worked closely with the NHS, local authorities and professional organisations, and has organised and contributed to conferences, workshops and training for healthcare professionals on topics such as protein nutrition, resistance training and women’s health. These initiatives bring together scientists, clinicians and practitioners, reflecting his commitment to bridging research and practice, and shaping both professional and public understanding of healthy ageing. His expertise has also been shared more widely through media outlets, including The Times and BBC1’s Food: Truth or Scare. Equally, he takes pride in his teaching and mentoring. He has led undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, contributed to curriculum design, and supported the academic development of students and colleagues at every stage of their academic journey.
