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

Prize And Awards

Research Excellence Award: Recipient; 2024
Research Excellence Award: Recipient; 2023

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Developing international consensus on key indicators for a 24-hour movement behaviour report card in early childhood : a twin-panel delphi study: Huang Wendy Y, Zhang Danqing, Tremblay Mark S, Wong Martin C S, Sit Cindy H P, Wong Sam W S, Chan Derwin K C, Wong Stephen H S, Bardid Farid, Reilly John,; Sports Medicine - Open Vol 11 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00905-x
iKids study protocol : a longitudinal study to understand the impact of interactive electronic devices on the development and health of young children in England: De Azevedo Liane Beretta, Stephenson John, Hughes Amy, Retzler Jenny, Reilly John J, Fairclough Stuart, Okely Tony, Jones Daniel, Smith Christine, Greca João Paulo de Aguiar, Marr Colette; BMJ open Vol 15 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101523
Perceptions of small animal nutrition : an exploration of education and self-reported proficiency among student veterinary professionals: Lumbis Rachel H, Fontaine Samantha J, Reilly John J, Yam Philippa S; Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (2025); https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme-2025-0010
Temporal associations of physical activity volume, intensity, and timing with sleep in preschool‐aged children: Huang Wendy Yajun, Feng Jie, Sit Cindy Hui‐Ping, Reilly John J, Khan Asaduzzaman; Journal of Sleep Research (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.70162
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

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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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