Development and implementation of health-and lifestyle-related NCD risk profiles in a tertiary education setting

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Dr Kotze-Horstmann is a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Stellenbosch University. Her research focuses on lifestyle medicine and the prevention of non-communicable diseases by studying how people live, move, and eat, and by developing practical, evidence-based strategies to support healthier choices and behaviours.

She co-developed and manages the MaRooN Health Passport, a comprehensive health surveillance platform that monitors risk behaviours among university staff and students and is now being implemented at other South African universities. Her research integrates physical activity, nutrition, and health-related quality of life, applying advanced statistical approaches, including cluster analysis, regression modelling, and multivariate techniques to interpret complex datasets and present findings in innovative, meaningful ways that inform early intervention and institutional health strategies.

Beyond research, she regularly participates in evidence-based lifestyle programmes in order to translate scientific findings into actionable guidance for individuals and groups. She regularly delivers talks on metabolic health, weight management and exercise physiology, bridging the gap between science and practice.

She is deeply committed to methodological rigour and innovation, striving to apply sound study design and robust statistical modelling to ensure that her work not only advances scientific knowledge but also produces tools and insights that can be implemented in real-world settings to improve population health