Professor

Professor Eric Poon holds a B.Sc. (1st class) degree from the University of Hong Kong, as well as an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Exercise Science from CUHK. With a specialization in High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), his research focuses on exploring the cardio-metabolic health benefits of HIIT among diverse populations, ranging from school-aged children to middle-aged and older adults. His contributions to the field have been recognized through numerous publications in reputable journals. Beyond his academic pursuits, Professor Poon is an internationally accredited Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP). He has been invited for guest presentations and professional services with various community parties, such as Hong Kong Sports Institute, Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Hong Kong Physical Fitness Association over the past several years.

• High-intensity interval training and cardiometabolic health benefits
• Sport nutrition, exercise performance and fitness
• Umbrella reviews and evidence synthesis

1. Chen, Y., Zhang, B., Zhang, J., Wong, S. H. S. & Poon, E. T.* (2026). Exercise in Hot or Thermoneutral Conditions? Comparative Effectiveness on Aerobic Performance and Physiological Adaptations in The Heat: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 101168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2026.101168
2. Poon, E. T., Iu, J. C., Franklin, B. A., Phillips, S. M., Lubans, D. R., Schoenfeld, B. J., Smith, J. J., Kennedy, S.G., Wong, P. S., & Batrakoulis, A. (2026). Impact of Resistance Training on Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Cardiometabolic Health in Children and Adolescents With Overweight/Obesity: An Umbrella Review With Meta-Analyses. Obesity Reviews, e70171. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70171
3. Poon, E. T.*, Li, H. Y., Wong, P. S., Sum, W. M., Little, J. P., & Sabag, A. (2026). Efficacy of Exercise-Based Interventions for Metabolic Syndrome: An Umbrella Review With Meta-Analyses. Obesity Reviews, e70144. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70144
4. Poon, E. T.*, Wong, P. S., Kong, A. P. S., & Ali, A. (2025). Efficacy of Exercise-Based Interventions for Prediabetes: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomised Controlled Trials. eClinicalMedicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103606
5. Poon, E. T.*, Lau, K. W., Tsang, J. H., Zhang, X., & Wongpipit, W. (2025). Comparative Effects of Continuous Glucose Monitoring-Informed and Traditional Interval-Based Carbohydrate Refueling Protocols on Endurance Exercise Responses: An Exploratory Study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 22(1), 2561670. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2025.2561670
6. Poon, E. T.*, Iu, J., Sum, W., Wong, P. S., Lo, K., Ali, A., Burns, F., & Trexler, E. (2025). Dietary Nitrate Supplementation and Exercise Performance: An Umbrella Review of 20 Published Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analyses. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02194-6
7. Poon, E. T.*, Li, H. Y., Kong, A. P. S., & Little, J. P. (2025). Efficacy of High-Intensity Interval Training in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.16220
8. Ortega, F. B., Zhang, K., Cadenas-Sanchez, C., Tremblay, M. S., Jurak, G., Tomkinson, G. R., Ruiz, J. R., Keller, K., Nystrom, C. D., Sacheck, J., Pate, R., Weston, K. L., Kidokoro, T., Poon, E. T., . . . The Delphi Fitness Expert, G. (2024). The Youth Fitness International Test (YFIT) battery for monitoring and surveillance among children and adolescents: A modified Delphi consensus project with 169 experts from 50 countries and territories. Journal of Sport and Health Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101012
9. Poon, E. T., Wongpipit, W., Li, H. Y., Wong, S. H. S., Siu, P., Kong, A. & Johnson, N. (2024). High-intensity Interval Training for Cardiometabolic Health in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108481
10. Poon, E. T., Li, H. Y., Little, J., Wong, S. H. S. & Ho R. S.T. (2024). Efficacy of Interval Training in Improving Body Composition and Adiposity in Apparently Healthy Adults: An Umbrella Review with Meta-analysis. Sports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02070-9

• General Research Fund (GRF), Research Grant Council of Hong Kong.01/2026-12/2027.Building Resilience Against Rising Temperature – The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) on Heat Tolerance, Thermoregulatory Adaptation, and Physical Fitness: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial.
• Early Career Scheme (ECS), Research Grant Council of Hong Kong.01/2025-12/2026.Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Fitness, Cognitive and Mental Health in Hong Kong Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.
• Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Food and Health Bureau.10/2025-10/2027.An Innovative Approach to Combine Intermittent Dieting (INTD) with High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIE) for Curbing Central Obesity: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial.
• Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) Research Fellowship Scheme, Food and Health Bureau.12/2024-11/2026.High-Intensity Interval Exercise and A Low Carbohydrate Diet on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Fitness in Physically Inactive Adults with Prediabetes: A Comparative Randomized Trial.
• Strategic Partnership Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) 2025, CUHK.06/2025-05/2026.Training for a Hotter Future: The Role of Exercise Intensity in Optimizing Heat Tolerance and Thermoregulation (in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, Thailand).
• Direct Grant for Research, CUHK 01/2026-12/2026. Effects of “Exercise Snacks” on Improving Body Composition, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Physically Inactive Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
• Organizational Donation, Inspiring HK Sports Foundation. 11/2024-10/2027. Community Project for Sport Promotion, Community Project for Sport Project.
• Contracted Research, Otsuka Pharmaceutical (H.K.) Ltd. 08/2025-07/2026. The Effects of Low- and High-Glycemic Index Sport Nutrition Bars on Metabolism and High-Intensity Interval Training Responses.
• Sustainable Development Goals Action Fund, CUHK.10/2024-09/2025.Promoting Physical Fitness and Health for Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: “Project HIITelligence”.
• Direct Grant for Research, CUHK 01/2024-12/2024.Effects of carbohydrate-caffeine mouth rinse on the physical fitness performance, physiological and perceptual responses of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in the absorptive state.
• The University of Sydney-The Chinese University of Hong Kong (USyd-CUHK) Ignition Grants.12/2023-11/2024.Combating Global Childhood Physical Inactivity Crisis: A Pilot Community-based Healthy Lifestyle Program with Children and their Families.
• Education Bureau (EDB), HKSAR Government.11/2024-02/2025.Provision of Services for One PDP for Enhancing Teachers’ Understanding of Senior Sec. PE Elective:”Physiological basis for Exercise and Sport Training” and “Psychological Skills for P.E., Sport and Recreation”.

• Physical Fitness Appraisal and Exercise Prescription
• Coaching Science
• Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance
• Physiology of Human Performance
• Principles of Strength Training and Conditioning

• Top 1% Highly Cited Paper, Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, 2026
• Top Cited Article, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Medicine & Science in Sports, 2025
• Best Basic Science Paper – Early and Mid-Career Researcher Publication Prize, International Diabetes Federation (Western-Pacific Region), 2025
• Best Poster and Outstanding Oral Presentation Awards, South-East Asia Physical Activity
  Conference (SEAPAC) 2025, Thailand, Bangkok, 2025
• Faculty Exemplary Teaching Award 2023-24, Faculty of Education, CUHK
• Best Paper Award (Oral Presentation), The 21st Annual Conference of the Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness, Wuhan, China, 2024
• RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, Research Grant Council, 2019-2021
• Young Scholars Thesis Award, CUHK, 2020
• Postgraduate Research Output Award, 2019
• Young Investigator Award (Best Poster Presentation), International Sport & Exercise Nutrition Conference, Newcastle, UK, 2018

• Associate Editor, Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness (Elsevier)
• Co-Editors-in-Chief, Health & Fitness Community Page, Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China
• Executive Committee, Research & Publication Committee, Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China
• Member, American College of Sports Medicine
• Member, European College of Sports Science