Antonio Garcia-Hermoso1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Navarrabiomed, Navarra Hospital Complex (CHN), Public University of Navarra (UPNA), IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain; 2TP Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. TP Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: editor@thetp.org.
This interview can be cited as: Garcia-Hermoso A, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of TP: Prof. Antonio F. Corno. Transl Pediatr. 2025. Available from: https://tp.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-tp-dr-antonio-garcia-hermoso.
Expert introduction
Dr. Antonio Garcia-Hermoso (Figure 1) is a native of Plasencia (Spain) and a graduate of the University of Extremadura (Spain). He specializes in pediatric physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiometabolic health, with a particular focus on exercise in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. As the Principal Investigator of the DIACTIVE-1 project, he leads research on the benefits of physical activity in this population. Since 2019, Dr. García-Hermoso has been a member of the Navarrabiomed Research Center (Pamplona, Spain), where he heads the Physical Activity, Children, and Youth Unit, dedicated to analyzing the impact of exercise and physical activity on the physical and mental health of ill or apparently healthy young people. Dr. García-Hermoso has contributed to more than 300 publications in peer-reviewed, PubMed-listed journals within this team and is a member of several international professional societies.
Figure 1 Dr. Antonio Garcia-Hermoso
Interview
TP: What inspired you to specialize in pediatric physical activity and cardiometabolic health?
Dr. García-Hermoso: Since the beginning of my research career, I have collaborated on various projects focused on childhood obesity and how physical activity can promote benefits across multiple physical and mental health parameters. My doctoral thesis addressed this topic, and I have continued working in this field ever since. I believe it is of vital importance, as high levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are among the key factors contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic.
TP: Many studies focus on exercise for adults. Why do you choose to examine physical activity in youth populations, and what importance do these studies have?
Dr. García-Hermoso: Given the current context of widespread sedentary behavior and extremely low levels of physical activity in the general population, diseases traditionally associated with adulthood—such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease—are now emerging in early life. Additionally, scientific literature highlights that the habits formed in childhood significantly influence lifestyle behaviors throughout the life cycle. For this reason, I believe it is essential to promote healthy habits, including physical activity, from an early age.
TP: Your research explores the impact of physical activity on both ill and apparently healthy young people. What are the most surprising findings you have encountered?
Dr. García-Hermoso: For the past four years, we have been working on promoting physical activity in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, a population that often avoids exercise due to fear of hypoglycemia. Our findings from the DIACTIVE-1 project show that, for example, optimal levels of muscular strength contribute to greater glycemic stability in this population. Additionally, resistance training may also lead to improvements in cardiometabolic health, highlighting the potential benefits of tailored exercise programs beyond glycemic stability.
TP: Based on your findings, what are the most effective exercise interventions for improving cardiometabolic health in children?
Dr. García-Hermoso: Several studies published by our research group have shown that concurrent exercise—combining aerobic and strength training in the same session—leads to greater physical and mental health benefits compared to aerobic exercise alone, which is commonly recommended in the literature. Likewise, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) appears to be particularly effective, even in shorter training sessions. We have confirmed these findings in populations with type 1 diabetesandobesity, highlighting the importance of incorporating varied and high-intensity training strategies to optimize cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.
TP: What are some emerging trends in pediatric physical activity research that excite you?
Dr. García-Hermoso: One of the most exciting emerging trends in pediatric physical activity research is the integration of new technologies, such as mHealth applications and wearables, to promote movement and healthier habits. The growing use ofgamification, virtual reality, and AI-driven personalized exercise programs offers a unique opportunity to engage young people in physical activity in a way that aligns with their digital lifestyles. However, it’s crucial to emphasize that these technologies should complement, not replace, real-world physical activity. Instead, they should be seen as a tool to transform screen time into active time, making movement more accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable for children and adolescents.
TP: Are there any ongoing or upcoming collaborations that you are working on? What do you hope to achieve through these projects?
Dr. García-Hermoso: As I mentioned earlier, nowadays our research focuses on promoting physical activity in pediatric populations with type 1 diabetes, particularly addressing their primary barrier to exercise: the fear of hypoglycemia. One of our most exciting ongoing projects is the development of a mHealth application designed to prescribe personalized strength training for these patients. The app adjusts training loads and progression based on the initial handgrip strength assessment, ensuring a safe and effective exercise regimen. Additionally, the app monitors pre- and post-exercise blood glucose levels, providing real-time feedback and educating patients on how physical activity influences their glucose regulation. By integrating this feature, we aim to empower children and adolescents with the knowledge and confidence to engage in regular exercise safely.
Following a first randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 62 patients, we observed multiple health benefits, reinforcing the potential of this approach. As a result, we are now expanding Diactive-1 to 11 hospitals across Spain. Both projects are funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, reflecting their importance in advancing exercise-based interventions for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
TP: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of TP?
Dr. García-Hermoso: It is an honor for me to be part of such a prominent biomedical journal, especially in the field that I am passionate about, pediatrics. Moreover, representing physical education professionals in this area of knowledge is a significant step forward in promoting the cross-disciplinary relevance of physical activity. Being part of the editorial board allows me to contribute to the advancement of research in this area and ensure that physical activity is recognized as an essential component of pediatric health and well-being.
TP: As an Editorial Board Member, what are your aspirations and expectations for TP?
Dr. García-Hermoso: My hope is that the journal continues to remain at the forefront of pediatric research for many years to come. I aim for TP to further strengthen its impact in the field and be a key platform for advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration among professionals in pediatrics, physical activity, and related disciplines.