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

Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family practices : an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries: Zhang Zhiguang, Abdeta Chalchisa, Chelly Mohamed Souhaiel, del Pozo-Cruz Jesús, Draper Catherine E, Engberg Elina, Florindo Alex, Germana Leyna, Ghofranipour Fazlollah, Guan Hongyan, Ha Amy Sau-Ching, Hamdouchi Asmaa E l, Tang Hong K, Hossain Mohammed Sorowar, Jambaldorj Bayasgalan, Kim Dong Hoon, Koh Denise, Kontsevaya Anna, Löf Marie, Lubree Himangi, Jáuregui Alejandra, Munambah Nyaradzai, Mwase-Vuma Tawonga, Oluwayomi Aoko, Pham Bang Nguyen, Reilly John J, Staiano Amanda E, Suherman Adang, Tanaka Chiaki, Tanui Stephen, Teo Wei-Peng, Tremblay Mark S, Turab Ali, Užičanin Edin, Veldman Sanne L C, Webster E Kipling, Wickramasinghe V Pujitha, Widyastari Dyah Anantalia, Okely Anthony; SLEEP Vol 48 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae305
Enhancing fundamental motor skills through active play : a systematic review and meta-analysis of educational contexts: Ramos-Munell Javier, Gallardo-Gómez Daniel, Álvarez-Barbosa Francisco, Alfonso-Rosa Rosa M, Reilly John J, Okely Anthony, del Pozo-Cruz Borja, del Pozo-Cruz Jesús; European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, pp. 1-21 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2025.2487929
Associations between sedentary behavior and motor competence in 3- to 4-year-olds : a systematic review: Kwofie Nana A, Janssen Xanne, Reilly John J; Journal of Motor Learning and Development Vol 13, pp. 36-58 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2023-0079
Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake: Bajunaid Rania, Niu Chaoqun, Hambly Catherine, Liu Zongfang, Yamada Yosuke, Aleman-Mateo Heliodoro, Anderson Liam J, Arab Lenore, Baddou Issad, Bandini Linda, Bedu-Addo Kweku, Blaak Ellen E, Bouten Carlijn V C, Brage Soren, Buchowski Maciej S, Butte Nancy F, Camps Stefan G J A, Casper Regina, Close Graeme L, Cooper Jamie A, Cooper Richard, Das Sai Krupa, Davies Peter S W, Dabare Prasangi, Dugas Lara R, Eaton Simon, Ekelund Ulf, Entringer Sonja, Forrester Terrence, Fudge Barry W, Gillingham Melanie, Goris Annelies H, Gurven Michael, El Hamdouchi Asmaa, Haisma Hinke H, Hoffman Daniel, Hoos Marije B, Hu Sumei, Joonas Noorjehan, Joosen Annemiek M, Katzmarzyk Peter, Kimura Misaka, Kraus William E, Kriengsinyos Wantanee, Kuriyan Rebecca, Kushner Robert F, Lambert Estelle V, Lanerolle Pulani, Larsson Christel L, Leonard William R, Lessan Nader, Löf Marie, Martin Corby K, Matsiko Eric, Medin Anine C, Morehen James C, Morton James P, Must Aviva, Neuhouser Marian L, Nicklas Theresa A, Nyström Christine D, Ojiambo Robert M, Pietiläinen Kirsi H, Pitsiladis Yannis P, Plange-Rhule Jacob, Plasqui Guy, Prentice Ross L, Racette Susan B, Raichlen David A, Ravussin Eric, Redman Leanne M, Reilly John J, Reynolds Rebecca, Roberts Susan B, Samaranayakem Dulani, Sardinha Luis B, Silva Analiza M, Sjödin Anders M, Stamatiou Marina, Stice Eric, Urlacher Samuel S, Van Etten Ludo M, van Mil Edgar G A H, Wilson George, Yanovski Jack A, Yoshida Tsukasa, Zhang Xueying, Murphy-Alford Alexia J, Sinha Srishti, Loechl Cornelia U, Luke Amy H, Pontzer Herman, Rood Jennifer, Sagayama Hiroyuki, Schoeller Dale A, Westerterp Klaas R, Wong William W, Speakman John R; Nature food Vol 6, pp. 58-71 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01089-5
Improving national and international surveillance of movement behaviours in childhood and adolescence : an international modified Delphi study: Reilly John J, Andrew Rachel, Abdeta Chalchisa, Azevedo Liane B, Aguilar Farias Nicolas, Barak Sharon, Bardid Farid, Bizzozero-Peroni Bruno, Brazo-Sayavera Javier, Cagas Jonathan Y, Chelly Mohamed-Souhaiel, Christiansen Lars B, Djordjic Visnja D, Draper Catherine E, El-Hamdouchi Asmaa, Fares Elie-Jacques, Gába Aleš, Hesketh Kylie D, Hossain Mohammad Sorowar, Huang Wendy, Jáuregui Alejandra, Juvekar Sanjay K, Kuzik Nicholas, Larouche Richard, Lee Eun-Young, Levi Sharon, Liu Yang, Löf Marie, Loney Tom, Lopez Gil Jose Francisco, Mäestu Evelin, Manyanga Taru, Martins Clarice, Mendoza-Muñoz Maria, Morrison Shawnda A, Munambah Nyaradzai, Mwase-Vuma Tawonga W, Naidoo Rowena, Ocansey Reginald, Okely Anthony D, Oluwayomi Aoko, Paudel Susan, Poh Bee Koon, Ribeiro Evelyn H, Santos Silva Diego Augusto, Shahril Mohd Razif, Smith Melody, Staiano Amanda E, Standage Martyn, Subedi Narayan, Tanaka Chiaki, Tang Hong K, Thivel David, Tremblay Mark S, Uzicanin Edin, Vlachopoulos Dimitris, Webster E Kipling, Widyastari Dyah Anantalia, Zembura Pawel, Aubert Salome; Sports Medicine Vol 55, pp. 203-219 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2
Celebrating a decade of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance and its Global Matrix initiative: Morrison Shawnda A, Aubert Salome, Brazo-Sayavera Javier, Demchenko Iryna, Reilly John J, Tremblay Mark S; British Journal of Sports Medicine (2024); https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108984

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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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