You are here: University of Sydney / Faculty of Health Sciences / Academic Staff / Dr Nathan Johnson 

Dr Nathan Johnson

BMedSc, Master of Health Science (Hons), PhD, Graduate Certificate Education Studies (Higher Education
Senior Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Science

C43A - Jeffrey Miller Admin Building Cumberland Campus
The University of Sydney

Telephone 93519137
Fax 93519204

Biographical details

Nathan's primary research concerns the physiological consequences of lifestyle change (exercise and diet) in obesity and metabolic disease.

Nathan's research is currently supported by the Ramaciotti Foundation and Blackmores Australia.

Within the Faculty of Health Sciences, Nathan teaches undergraduate exercise science, clinical exercise physiology and postgraduate exercise physiology. His teaching philosophy focuses the development of practical skill mastery for exercise physiology and the promotion of evidence-based clinical practice.

Back to Top

Research interests

Exercise and diet; physiology of exercise; physical activity

Back to Top

Teaching and supervision

Nathan's teaching focuses on the physiology of exercise. Specifically, his teaching centres on the acute and adaptive responses to physical activity with a particular emphasis on the nexus between theoretical understanding and the development of practical competency for the Exercise Physiologist.Current research projects are undertaken by 5 PhD students and Honours candidates for whom Nathan is a supervisor.

Back to Top

Selected grants

2012

  • Rev Up: A healthy lifestyle intervention program; Freeston J, Fiatarone Singh M, Johnson N, O'Connor H; Uniting Church in Australia/Inner City Development Fund.

2011

  • Lunar Prodigy Bone Densitometer Manufactured By General Electric Australia; Fiatarone Singh M, Davis G, Brand-Miller J, Kilbreath S, Brennan P, March L, Johnson N, Rooney K, Orr R; National Health and Medical Research Council/Equipment Grants.
  • Exercise and liver fat reduction in pre-diabetes: moving beyond weight loss; Johnson N, Caterson I, George J, O'Connor H; Diabetes Australia Research Trust/Research Grants.

2010

  • A novel exercise regime to reduce cardiometabolic risk in overweight sedentary individuals; Johnson N; Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation/Awards for Biomedical Research: Establishment Gifts.

2008

  • Fitness versus fatness in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver; Johnson N; Faculty of Health Sciences/Cumberland Teaching and Learning Grant.
Back to Top

Selected publications

Download citations: PDF RTF Endnote

Journals

  • Johnson, N., Chuter, V., Rooney, K. (2013). Conception of learning and clinical skill acquisition in undergraduate exercise science students: a pilot study. Advances in Physiology Education, 37(1), 108-111.
  • Hackett, D., Johnson, N., Halaki, M., Chow, C. (2012). A novel scale to assess resistance-exercise effort. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(13), 1405-1413.
  • Ismail, I., Keating, S., Baker, M., Johnson, N. (2012). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of aerobic vs. resistance exercise training on visceral fat. Obesity Reviews, 13(1), 68-91.
  • Johnson, N., van Overbeek, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, M., Sachinwalla, T., George, J. (2012). Effect of prolonged exercise and pre-exercise dietary manipulation on hepatic triglycerides in trained men. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(5), 1817-1825.
  • Keating, S., Hackett, D., George, J., Johnson, N. (2012). Exercise and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hepatology, 57(1), 157-166.
  • Johnson, N., Keating, S., George, J. (2012). Exercise and the Liver: Implications for Therapy in Fatty Liver Disorders. Seminars in Liver Disease, 32(1), 65-79.
  • Hackett, D., Johnson, N., Chow, C. (2012). High-volume resistance training session acutely diminishes respiratory muscle strength. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11, 26-30.
  • Burdon, C., Johnson, N., Chapman, P., O'Connor, H. (2012). Influence of beverage temperature on palatability and fluid ingestion during endurance exercise: A systematic review. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 22(3), 199-211.
  • Parker, H., Johnson, N., Burdon, C., Cohn, J., O'Connor, H., George, J. (2012). Omega-3 supplementation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hepatology, 56(4), 944-951.
  • Parker, H., Johnson, N., George, J. (2012). Reply to: "The optimal dose of omega-3 supplementation for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease". Journal of Hepatology, 57(2), 469-470.
  • Temesi, J., Johnson, N., Raymond, J., Burdon, C., O'Connor, H. (2011). Carbohydrate ingestion during endurance exercise improves performance in adults. The Journal of Nutrition, 141(5), 890-897.
  • Green, J., Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Cunningham, C., Thompson, M., Stannard, S. (2011). Moderate-intensity endurance exercise prevents short-term starvation-induced intramyocellular lipid accumulation but not insulin resistance. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 60(8), 1051-1057.
  • Burdon, C., O'Connor, H., Gifford (nee Barnard), J., Shirreffs, S., Chapman, P., Johnson, N. (2010). Effect of drink temperature on core temperature and endurance cycling performance in warm, humid conditions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(11), 1147-1156.
  • Hughes, J., Johnson, N., Brown, S., Sachinwalla, T., Walton, D., Stannard, S. (2010). Effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on intramyocellular lipid concentration and high energy phosphates. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 110, 1135-1141.
  • Johnson, N., George, J. (2010). Fitness Versus Fatness: Moving Beyond Weight Loss in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Hepatology, 52(1), 370-381.
  • Green, J., Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Cunningham, C., Thompson, M., Stannard, S. (2010). Low-carbohydrate diet does not affect intramyocellular lipid concentration or insulin sensitivity in lean, physically fit men when protein intake is elevated. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 59, 1633-1641.
  • Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Walton, D., Smith, K., Armstrong, A., Thompson, M., George, J. (2009). Aerobic exercise training reduces hepatic and visceral lipids in obese individuals without weight loss. Hepatology, 50(4), 1105-1112.
  • Rowlands, D., Johnson, N., Thomson, J., Chapman, P., Stannard, S. (2009). Exogenous glucose oxidation is reduced with carbohydrate feeding during exercise after starvation. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 58(8), 1161-1169.
  • Johnson, N., St George, A., George, J. (2009). Impact of lifestyle modification on patients with chronic liver disease. Hot Topics in viral Hepatitis, 5(14), 17-22.
  • Warren, A., Howden, E., Williams, A., Fell, J., Johnson, N. (2009). Postexercise Fat Oxidation: Effect of Exercise Duration, Intensity, and Modality. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 19(6), 607-623.
  • Johnson, N., Walton, D., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Smith, K., Ruell, P., Stannard, S., George, J. (2008). Noninvasive assessment of hepatic lipid composition: advancing understanding and management of fatty liver disorders. Hepatology, 47, 1513-1523.
  • Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., George, J. (2008). Reply: In Vitro Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Liver Tissue Informs In Vivo Hepatic Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies. Hepatology, 48(3), 1016-1017.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Chapman, P., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of altered pre-exercise carbohydrate availability on selection and perception of effort during prolonged cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 98(1), 62-70.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, C., O'Connor, H., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of short-term starvation versus high-fat diet on intramyocellular triglyceride accumulation and insulin resistance in physically fit men. Experimental Physiology, 91(4), 693-703.
  • Stannard, S., Johnson, N. (2006). Energy well spent fighting the diabetes epidemic. Diabetes - Metabolism: Research and Reviews, 22(1), 11-19.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, C., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, M. (2006). Short-term suppression of plasma free fatty acids fails to improve insulin sensitivity when intramyocellular lipid is elevated. Diabetic Medicine, 23(10), 1061-1068.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Thompson, M. (2004). Muscle triglyceride and glycogen in endurance exercise: implications for performance. Sports Medicine: reviews of applied medicine and science in sport and exercise, 34(3), 151-164.
  • Stannard, S., Johnson, N. (2003). Insulin resistance and elevated triglyceride in muscle: more important for survival than 'thrifty' genes? The Journal of Physiology, 554(3), 595-607.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Mehalski, K., Trenell, M., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Thompson, M. (2003). Intramyocellular triacylglycerol in prolonged cycling with high- and low-carbohydrate availability. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(4), 1365-1372.

Conferences

  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Chapman, P., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of altered pre-exercise carbohydrate availability on selection and perception of effort during prolonged cycling. 2nd Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science Conference, Brisbane: Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS).
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., O'Connor, H., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Thompson, M. (2006). Short term restriction of dietary carbohydrate mediates muscle triglyceride accumulation and insulin resistance independent of fat intake. 2nd Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science Conference, Brisbane: Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS).
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Mehalski, K., Trenell, M., Thompson, C., Thompson, M., Sachinwalla, T. (2002). Intramyocellular lipid utilisation in the highly trained athlete: Performance following CHO- and placebo-loading. 2002 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, : British Medical Journal Publishing Group.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Trenell, M., Thompson, C., Thompson, M., Fairbairn, K., Sachinwalla, C. (2002). The role of intramyocellular lipid in prolonged cycling performance. Third Research Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia: University of Sydney.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Thompson, M. (2001). Is carbohydrate loading a placebo effect?. Exercise, Muscle and Metabolism, : Ads & Adea.

2013

  • Johnson, N., Chuter, V., Rooney, K. (2013). Conception of learning and clinical skill acquisition in undergraduate exercise science students: a pilot study. Advances in Physiology Education, 37(1), 108-111.

2012

  • Hackett, D., Johnson, N., Halaki, M., Chow, C. (2012). A novel scale to assess resistance-exercise effort. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(13), 1405-1413.
  • Ismail, I., Keating, S., Baker, M., Johnson, N. (2012). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of aerobic vs. resistance exercise training on visceral fat. Obesity Reviews, 13(1), 68-91.
  • Johnson, N., van Overbeek, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, M., Sachinwalla, T., George, J. (2012). Effect of prolonged exercise and pre-exercise dietary manipulation on hepatic triglycerides in trained men. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(5), 1817-1825.
  • Keating, S., Hackett, D., George, J., Johnson, N. (2012). Exercise and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hepatology, 57(1), 157-166.
  • Johnson, N., Keating, S., George, J. (2012). Exercise and the Liver: Implications for Therapy in Fatty Liver Disorders. Seminars in Liver Disease, 32(1), 65-79.
  • Hackett, D., Johnson, N., Chow, C. (2012). High-volume resistance training session acutely diminishes respiratory muscle strength. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11, 26-30.
  • Burdon, C., Johnson, N., Chapman, P., O'Connor, H. (2012). Influence of beverage temperature on palatability and fluid ingestion during endurance exercise: A systematic review. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 22(3), 199-211.
  • Parker, H., Johnson, N., Burdon, C., Cohn, J., O'Connor, H., George, J. (2012). Omega-3 supplementation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hepatology, 56(4), 944-951.
  • Parker, H., Johnson, N., George, J. (2012). Reply to: "The optimal dose of omega-3 supplementation for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease". Journal of Hepatology, 57(2), 469-470.

2011

  • Temesi, J., Johnson, N., Raymond, J., Burdon, C., O'Connor, H. (2011). Carbohydrate ingestion during endurance exercise improves performance in adults. The Journal of Nutrition, 141(5), 890-897.
  • Green, J., Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Cunningham, C., Thompson, M., Stannard, S. (2011). Moderate-intensity endurance exercise prevents short-term starvation-induced intramyocellular lipid accumulation but not insulin resistance. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 60(8), 1051-1057.

2010

  • Burdon, C., O'Connor, H., Gifford (nee Barnard), J., Shirreffs, S., Chapman, P., Johnson, N. (2010). Effect of drink temperature on core temperature and endurance cycling performance in warm, humid conditions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(11), 1147-1156.
  • Hughes, J., Johnson, N., Brown, S., Sachinwalla, T., Walton, D., Stannard, S. (2010). Effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on intramyocellular lipid concentration and high energy phosphates. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 110, 1135-1141.
  • Johnson, N., George, J. (2010). Fitness Versus Fatness: Moving Beyond Weight Loss in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Hepatology, 52(1), 370-381.
  • Green, J., Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Cunningham, C., Thompson, M., Stannard, S. (2010). Low-carbohydrate diet does not affect intramyocellular lipid concentration or insulin sensitivity in lean, physically fit men when protein intake is elevated. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 59, 1633-1641.

2009

  • Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., Walton, D., Smith, K., Armstrong, A., Thompson, M., George, J. (2009). Aerobic exercise training reduces hepatic and visceral lipids in obese individuals without weight loss. Hepatology, 50(4), 1105-1112.
  • Rowlands, D., Johnson, N., Thomson, J., Chapman, P., Stannard, S. (2009). Exogenous glucose oxidation is reduced with carbohydrate feeding during exercise after starvation. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 58(8), 1161-1169.
  • Johnson, N., St George, A., George, J. (2009). Impact of lifestyle modification on patients with chronic liver disease. Hot Topics in viral Hepatitis, 5(14), 17-22.
  • Warren, A., Howden, E., Williams, A., Fell, J., Johnson, N. (2009). Postexercise Fat Oxidation: Effect of Exercise Duration, Intensity, and Modality. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 19(6), 607-623.

2008

  • Johnson, N., Walton, D., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Smith, K., Ruell, P., Stannard, S., George, J. (2008). Noninvasive assessment of hepatic lipid composition: advancing understanding and management of fatty liver disorders. Hepatology, 47, 1513-1523.
  • Johnson, N., Sachinwalla, T., George, J. (2008). Reply: In Vitro Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Liver Tissue Informs In Vivo Hepatic Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies. Hepatology, 48(3), 1016-1017.

2006

  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Chapman, P., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of altered pre-exercise carbohydrate availability on selection and perception of effort during prolonged cycling. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 98(1), 62-70.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Chapman, P., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of altered pre-exercise carbohydrate availability on selection and perception of effort during prolonged cycling. 2nd Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science Conference, Brisbane: Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS).
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, C., O'Connor, H., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, M. (2006). Effect of short-term starvation versus high-fat diet on intramyocellular triglyceride accumulation and insulin resistance in physically fit men. Experimental Physiology, 91(4), 693-703.
  • Stannard, S., Johnson, N. (2006). Energy well spent fighting the diabetes epidemic. Diabetes - Metabolism: Research and Reviews, 22(1), 11-19.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., O'Connor, H., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Thompson, M. (2006). Short term restriction of dietary carbohydrate mediates muscle triglyceride accumulation and insulin resistance independent of fat intake. 2nd Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science Conference, Brisbane: Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS).
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Rowlands, D., Chapman, P., Thompson, C., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, M. (2006). Short-term suppression of plasma free fatty acids fails to improve insulin sensitivity when intramyocellular lipid is elevated. Diabetic Medicine, 23(10), 1061-1068.

2004

  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Thompson, M. (2004). Muscle triglyceride and glycogen in endurance exercise: implications for performance. Sports Medicine: reviews of applied medicine and science in sport and exercise, 34(3), 151-164.

2003

  • Stannard, S., Johnson, N. (2003). Insulin resistance and elevated triglyceride in muscle: more important for survival than 'thrifty' genes? The Journal of Physiology, 554(3), 595-607.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Mehalski, K., Trenell, M., Sachinwalla, T., Thompson, C., Thompson, M. (2003). Intramyocellular triacylglycerol in prolonged cycling with high- and low-carbohydrate availability. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(4), 1365-1372.

2002

  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Mehalski, K., Trenell, M., Thompson, C., Thompson, M., Sachinwalla, T. (2002). Intramyocellular lipid utilisation in the highly trained athlete: Performance following CHO- and placebo-loading. 2002 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, : British Medical Journal Publishing Group.
  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Trenell, M., Thompson, C., Thompson, M., Fairbairn, K., Sachinwalla, C. (2002). The role of intramyocellular lipid in prolonged cycling performance. Third Research Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia: University of Sydney.

2001

  • Johnson, N., Stannard, S., Thompson, M. (2001). Is carbohydrate loading a placebo effect?. Exercise, Muscle and Metabolism, : Ads & Adea.
Back to Top

For support on your academic profile contact Research Support.