Professor John Reilly

Physical Activity and Health

Contact

Personal statement

I joined the University in 2011 as John Anderson Research Leader and Professor of Physical Activity & Public Health Science. I was formerly Professor of Paediatric Energy Metabolism at the University of Glasgow.

My research work focuses on: prevention of child and adolescent obesity worldwide; the consequences of obesity and low physical activity in children and adolescents globally; the development and consequences of sedentary behaviour during childhood and adolescence globally; global monitoring of physical activity , sedentary behaviour and sleep in children and adolescents. I have been involved in a range of national and international Knowledge Exchange projects, including the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance www.activehealthykids.org, WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) https://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/en/   WHO Guideline Development Group on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep for the under 5’s https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/311664  • Chair of the UK Health Departments physical activity guidelines update for the Under 5’s https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/physical-activity-guidelines

Current Knowledge Exchange projects include:

FitBack Scotland- development of a system for national monitoring physical fitness in children and adolescents https://www.actify.org.uk/fitbackscotTowards a Sustainable Monitoring System to Address the Physical Fitness Crisis in Scottish Children: FitBack Scotland (scottishinsight.ac.uk)

Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Cards on COVID-19 Impacts (2024; funded by the ESRC -IAA) and Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card (2026) www.activehealthykidsscotland.co.uk

Early Childhood Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep in Malawi: Impact Activities from Current Research and Co-creation of Future Research Plans with Stakeholders in Malawi. International Science Partnerships –Scottish Funding Council Funded 2024-25.

Publications

I have almost 400 peer-reviewed papers with an h index (December 2024) of 93 (Web of Science) and 103 (Google Scholar). Recent publications include the following:

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108984

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2824006

https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-024-01650-2h

https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0711.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.03.006

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100869

https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae022

https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0679

https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/apaq/aop/article-10.1123-apaq.2023-0131/article-10.1123-apaq.2023-0131.xml

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114523000387

https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12628

 

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Area of Expertise

has expertise in:

  • childhood obesity: aetiology; diagnosis; prevention; treatment; consequences
  • objective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour
  • longitudinal (birth cohort) studies, in particular with ALSPAC and GMS in the UK
  • systematic reviewing: evidence appraisal, and evidence - based guideline development
  • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions in children and adolescents

Prize And Awards

Research Excellence Award
Recipient
2024
Research Excellence Award
Recipient
2023

More prizes and awards

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Publications

Think globally, act locally : a glocal approach based on the Regional Report Cards from Spain in the AHKGA Global Matrix 4.0
Brazo‐Sayavera Javier, Adsuar José Carmelo, Albisua‐Kaperotxipi Neritzel, Aznar Susana, López‐Gil José Francisco, Bermejo Laura Muñoz, Pérez‐Gómez Jorge, Román‐Viñas Blanca, Reilly John J
Child: Care, Health and Development Vol 51 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70165
Measurement properties of the SUNRISE Study Parent Questionnaire for assessing sleep and sleep-related family practices
Zhang Zhiguang, Abdeta Chalchisa, Chelly Mohamed Souhaiel, Cruz Jesús del Pozo, Germana Leyna, Ghofranipour Fazlollah, Ha Amy Sau-Ching, El Hamdouchi Asmaa, Tang Hong Kim, Hossain Mohammed Sorowar, Jambaldorj Bayasgalan, Koh Denise C L, Kontsevaya Anna, Löf Marie, Lubree Himangi, Jáuregui Alejandra, Mwase-Vuma Tawonga, Oluchiri Amonje Moses, Oluwayomi Aoko, Reilly John J, Roos Eva, Staiano Amanda E, Suherman Adang, Tanaka Chiaki, Teo Wei-Peng, Turab Ali, Užičanin Edin, Veldman Sanne L C, Webster E Kipling, Wickramasinghe Pujitha, Aunampai Aubdul, Okely Anthony
Sleep Health Vol 11, pp. 613-623 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2025.04.006
Risk factors for eating disorder symptoms at 15 years of age : a 9-year longitudinal cohort study
Hanson Louise N, Adamson Ashley J, Basterfield Laura, Reilly John J, Janssen Xanne, Pearce Mark S, Boothroyd Lynda G, Evans Elizabeth H
Appetite Vol 214 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108149
Physical Activity and Health Annual Report 2024
Reilly John, Harrington Deirdre, Hewitt Allan, Hughes Adrienne, Janssen Xanne, Johnston Evelyn, Kirk Alison, McMichan Lauren, Muirhead Fiona, Weston Kathryn
(2025)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motor competence in children and adolescents : a systematic review
Reilly John J, Glendenning Lucy, Govan Lucile
Journal of Sports Sciences, pp. 1-12 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2025.2555122
Validation of anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance equations for the prediction of fat mass amongst South African children
Hudda M T, van Niekerk E, Sedumedi C M, Moeng‐Mahlangu L, Whincup P H, Reilly J J, Kruger H S, Monyeki M A
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.70129

More publications

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Teaching

I teach on the BSc Sport & Physical Activity degree, mainly in the Physical Activity & Health classes (e.g. Sports Nutrition), and supervise students doing mini-research projects in 3rd year and larger research dissertation projects in 4th year. 

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Research Interests

See Personal Statement above for Research Interest.

A number of recent research projects have been included in news articles in The Conversation- links below

https://theconversation.com/rewild-your-kids-why-playing-outside-should-be-a-post-pandemic-priority-156077

https://theconversation.com/as-schools-reopen-will-this-be-the-least-fit-generation-of-schoolchildren-ever-145492

https://theconversation.com/active-commuting-could-make-childrens-return-to-school-better-for-their-health-and-the-planet-133094

https://theconversation.com/obesity-is-more-common-than-you-think-heres-why-131341

https://theconversation.com/why-fidgeting-could-be-good-for-your-childs-health-122346

https://theconversation.com/why-screen-time-for-babies-children-and-adolescents-needs-to-be-limited-110630

Professional Activities

Activity and diet policies “almost certainly” mitigated pandemic effect
Contributor
8/5/2025
Physical Activity and Active Play: State of the Nation
Speaker
25/11/2024
FitBack Scotland: Developing a Fitness Monitoring System for Scottish Children
Speaker
3/5/2023
Pandemic has worsened global childhood physical inactivity crisis – and Scotland is no exception
Contributor
24/10/2022
Active Healthy Kids Scotland (Event)
Member
2013
WHO Geneva Working Group (External organisation)
Member
2013

More professional activities

Projects

Investigating 24-hour movement behaviours in young people with Intellectual Disabilities in Scotland
Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator) Crawford, Megan (Co-investigator) Donnachie, Craig (Co-investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2026
24-hour Movement Behaviours, Child Development, and Families in the Early Years: Active Healthy Families
John, Jessica (Researcher) Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator) Henderson, Marion (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2028
Move for brain health: Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card
Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 01-Jan-2026
Digital Childhood: Reducing Health Risks of Screen Time in Early Childhood in Europe
Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator)
30-Jan-2025 - 29-Jan-2026
The impact of interactive electronic devices: understanding the mechanisms of benefitsand harms on young children’s development, behaviour and health outcomes using a multimethod approach.
Reilly, John (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2028
24-hour Movement Behaviours, Child Development, and Early Childhood Settings: SUNRISE Scotland
Miller, Hollie (Researcher) Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator) Henderson, Marion (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2027

More projects

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Contact

Professor John Reilly
Physical Activity and Health

Email: john.j.reilly@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4235