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: 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/fitbackscot - Towards 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/s12966-024-01650-2 h

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

Expertise

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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

Publications

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Publications

Physical activity, screen time and sleep among children and adolescents : findings from the 2022 active healthy kids Ethiopia: Abdeta Chalchisa, Deksisa Alem, Hailu Mesfin, Tesfaye Debrework, Westerman Lucy, Okely Anthony D, Reilly John J, Tremblay Mark S; BMC Pediatrics Vol 25 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05785-4
Content validation of the Global Adolescent and Child Physical Activity Questionnaire (GAC-PAQ) in low-, middle-, and high-income countries across 6 continents: Larouche Richard, de Oliveira Saulo Neves, Abadi Mahdi Rostami Haji, Benavides-Castro Judy K, Sarmiento Olga L, Garay Garazi Angulo, Argumedo Gabriela, Ashaolu Joseph O, Baghestani Ameneh, Bhawra Jasmin, Brazo-Sayavera Javier, Choonak Nutnaree, Nyström Christine Delisle, Evance Seth, Hamrik Zdenek, Jáuregui Alejandra, Kaewpikul Piyakrita, Katewongsa Piyawat, Khadilkar Anuradha, Kira Geoff, Kuntembwe McPherry, Liu Yang, Löf Marie, Loney Tom, Lundgren Maria, Mandlik Rubina, Matapo-Kolisko Martine, More Chidvilas, Mwase-Vuma Tawonga W, Nilwatta Nattaporn, Oyeyemi Adewale L, Paudel Susan, Pomkai Nanthawan, Richards Justin, Silva Diego Augusto Santos, Smith Melody, Subedi Narayan, Widyastari Dyah Anantalia, Wilson Oliver WA, Aubert Salomé, Carson Valerie, Colley Rachel C, Esliger Dale W, Kuzik Nicholas, Manyanga Taru, Reilly John J, Vanderloo Leigh M, Tremblay Mark S; Journal of Sport and Health Science (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101074
Associations between 24-hour movement compositions and cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents: a five-part compositional analysis using data from the International Children’s Accelerometery Database (ICAD): Marshall Zoë A, Runacres Adam, Hallal Pedro Curi, Jago Russ, Kwon Soyang, Northstone Kate, Pate Russell R, Puder Jardena, Reilly John J, Sardinha Luis B, Wedderkopp Niels, Van Slujis Ester; BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine Vol 11 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002568
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 (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
Associations between sedentary behaviour and fine and gross motor skills in 3‐ to 4‐year‐olds : a secondary data analysis from Sunrise International Study pilot studies: Kwofie Nana A, Suherman Adang, Florindo Alex A, Staiano Amanda, Ha Amy S, Okely Anthony D, El Hamdouchi Asmaa, Pham Bang Nguyen, Draper Catherine E, Tanaka Chiaki, Koh Denise, Kim Dong Hoon, Webster E Kipling, Guan Hongyan, Tang Hong Kim, Reilly John J, Chong Kar Hau, Löf Marie, Tremblay Mark S, Hossain Mohammad Sorowar, Munambah Nyaradzai, Cross Penny L, Wickramasinghe Pujitha, Kim Thanh Van, Janssen Xanne; Child: Care, Health and Development Vol 51 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70092

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Teaching

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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 3^rd year and larger research dissertation projects in 4^th year.

Research

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