Professor John Reilly
Physical Activity and Health
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: interventions for the 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 and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents. I am involved in a range of national and international Knowledge Exchange projects. Recent KE projects include • leading the ‘Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card’ (www.activehealthykidsscotland.co.uk), • international executive committee of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (www.activehealthykids.org) • membership of the Science and Evidence Group for the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) https://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/en/ • membership of the 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 I have over 300 peer-reviewed papers with an h index (October 2018) of 58 (Web of Science) and 74 (Google Scholar). Recent publications include the following: Longitudinal changes in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. MA Farooq, AM Gibson, X Janssen, AR Hughes, M, A Martin, JJ Reilly. Obes Rev 2020; 21: e12953. Energy expenditure associated with posture transitions in pre-school children. KL Downing, X Janssen, DP Cliff, AD Okely, JJ Reilly. PLoS ONE 2019; 14 (4) e0215169 Non-linear association
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
Publications
- Association between physical activity and health outcomes (high body fatness, high blood pressure) in Namibian adolescents and adult women
- Nashandi Hilde Liisa, Monyeki Makama Andries, Reilly John J
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol 21 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040446
- Tracking of MVPA across childhood and adolescence
- Ramos-Munell Javier, Pearce Mark S, Adamson Ashley, Janssen Xanne, Basterfield Laura, Reilly John J
- Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.03.006
- Practical steps needed to achieve impact of the WHO 2019 movement behaviour guidelines for children under the age of 5 : the SUNRISE Study Europe Group evaluation
- De Craemer Marieke, Veldman Sanne LC, Azevedo Liane B, Bardid Farid, Del Pozo Cruz Jesus, Engberg Elina, Jarani Juel, Kontsevaya Anna, Löf Marie, Martins Clarice, Nalecz Hanna, Okely Anthony, Tremblay Mark, Venetsanou Fotini, Yildiz Mehmet, Reilly John J
- The Lancet Regional Health - Europe Vol 39 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100869
- Nutrition and health in Arab adolescents (NaHAR) : study protocol for the determination of ethnic-specific body fat and anthropometric cut-offs to identify metabolic syndrome
- Nasreddine Lara, Bakir Mohamad Adel, Al-Ati Tareq, Alzaben Abeer Salman, Barham Rawhieh, Bawazeer Nahla, Fares Elie-Jacques, Hammad Kholoud, Kaestel Pernille, Reilly John J, Taktouk Mandy
- PLOS One Vol 19 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298306
- A systematic evaluation of physical activity and diet policies in Scotland : results from the 2021 Active Healthy Kids Report Card
- Tomaz Simone A, Reilly John J, Johnstone Avril, Hughes Adrienne, Robertson Jenni, Craig Leone C A, Bardid Farid
- Journal of Public Health (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae022
- Physical activity levels during school recess in a nationally representative sample of 10-11-year-olds
- Wong Lan Sum, Reilly John J, McCrorie Paul, Harrington Deirdre M
- Pediatric Exercise Science Vol 36, pp. 37-43 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2022-0144
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.
Research Interests
My research work focuses on: interventions for the prevention of child and adolescent obesity worldwide; the consequences of obesity and low physical activity in children and adolescents (including impacts on academic attainment); the development and consequences of sedentary behaviour during childhood and adolescence in low-middle income countries as well as high income countries.
I have over 340 peer-reviewed papers with an h index (August 2020) of 65 (Scopus) and 83 (Google Scholar), and a career FWCI of 3.2.Recent publications can be found in the Personal Statement. A number of recent research projects have been included in news articles in The Conversation- links below
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
Professional Activities
- WHO Geneva Working Group (External organisation)
- Member
- 2013
- Active Healthy Kids Scotland (Event)
- Member
- 2013
- Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (Event)
- Member
- 2012
- IAEA (Event)
- Advisor
- 2012
- BMBF (External organisation)
- Member
- 2009
- Finnish Academy of Sciences (External organisation)
- Member
- 2009
Projects
- Movement behaviours (physical activity, screen time, and sleep) in early childhood in Malawi
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Janssen, Xanne (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2024
- Movement behaviours (physical activity, screen time, and sleep) in early childhood in Malawi.
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Janssen, Xanne (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2021 - 29-Jan-2024
- Prevention of obesity, diabetes and some cancers in early childhood: translation of the 'ToyBox' pre-school intervention to Scotland
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Gibson, Ann-Marie (Co-investigator) Hughes, Adrienne (Co-investigator)
- Prevention of obesity, diabetes and some cancers in early childhood: translation of the 'ToyBox' pre-school intervention to Scotland
- 01-Jan-2016 - 30-Jan-2019
- Development and evaluation of active and outdoor play as a strategy for increasing physical activity of children.
- Hughes, Adrienne (Co-investigator) Reilly, John (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2016 - 30-Jan-2018
- Active Healthy Kids Report Card
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator)
- 04-Jan-2016 - 30-Jan-2016
- Healthy Habits Happy Homes: Translation of an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention to Socio-economically Deprived Families in Scotland : 3 year studentship for Kyla Booth
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Gibson, Ann-Marie (Co-investigator) Hughes, Adrienne (Co-investigator)
- 3 year studentship for Kyla Booth - Healthy Habits Happy Homes: Translation of an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention to Socio-economically Deprived Families in Scotland
- 01-Jan-2015 - 30-Jan-2019
Contact
Professor
John
Reilly
Physical Activity and Health
Email: john.j.reilly@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4235