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 , WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) 听听WHO Guideline Development Group on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep for the under 5鈥檚 听 鈥� Chair of the UK Health Departments physical activity guidelines update for the Under 5鈥檚
Current Knowledge Exchange projects include:
FitBack Scotland- development of a system for national monitoring physical fitness in children and adolescents -听
Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Cards on COVID-19 Impacts (2024; funded by the ESRC -IAA) and Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card (2026)
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 鈥揝cottish 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:
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Prize And Awards
- Recipient
- 2024
- Recipient
- 2023
Publications
- Phillips Sophie M, Jones Dan, Howells Kristy, , , Tucker Patricia
- International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy Vol 20 (2026)
- Huang Wendy Yajun, Feng Jie, Sit Cindy Hui鈥怭ing, , Khan Asaduzzaman
- Journal of Sleep Research Vol 35 (2026)
- Altenburg Teatske听M, de Vries Lotte听W, Grooten Iris听J, van 't Hooft Janneke, van Deutekom Arend听W, Roseboom Tessa, van den Akker Erica, Duncan Michael, Ekelund Ulf, , Reilly Lisa, Stafleu Annette, Standage Martyn, Chinapaw Mai听J听M,
- Obesity Reviews (2026)
- ,
- Movement Behaviour in the Early Years (2026) (2026)
- , Glendenning Lucy, Govan Lucile
- Journal of Sports Sciences Vol 44, pp. 105-116 (2026)
- Ramos-Munell Javier, Gallardo-G贸mez Daniel, 脕lvarez-Barbosa Francisco, Alfonso-Rosa Rosa M, , Okely Anthony, del Pozo-Cruz Borja, del Pozo-Cruz Jes煤s
- European Early Childhood Education Research Journal Vol 34, pp. 152-172 (2026)
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.听
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
Professional Activities
- Contributor
- 8/5/2025
- Speaker
- 25/11/2024
- Speaker
- 3/5/2023
- Contributor
- 24/10/2022
- Member
- 2013
- Member
- 2013
Projects
- Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator) Crawford, Megan (Co-investigator) Donnachie, Craig (Co-investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 01-Jan-2026
- John, Jessica (Researcher) Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator) Henderson, Marion (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2028
- Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 01-Jan-2026
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator)
- 30-Jan-2025 - 29-Jan-2026
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2028
- Miller, Hollie (Researcher) Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator) Henderson, Marion (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2027
Contact
Professor
John
Reilly
Physical Activity and Health
Email: john.j.reilly@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4235