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
- 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 Vol 27 (2026)
- Spring Katherine E, Webster E Kipling, Beyl Robbie A, Abdeta Chalchisa, Aoko Oluwayomi Abolade, Bayasgalan Jambaldorj, Byambaa Ankhmaa, Chelly Mohamed Souhaiel, Chia Michael, Del Pozo-Cruz Jesus, Draper Catherine, Engberg Elina, Ghofranipour Fazlollah, Guan Hongyan, Ha Amy S, El Hamdouchi Asmaa, Zarghani Najmeh Hamzavi, Hossain Mohammad Sorowar, J谩uregui Alejandra, Koh Denise, Kontsevaya Anna, L枚f Marie, Lubree Himangi, Mwase-Vuma Tawonga, , Tanaka Chiaki, Teo Wei-Peng, Turrab Ali, Uzicanin Edin, Veldman Sanne, Okely Anthony D, Katzmarzyk Peter T, Staiano Amanda E
- Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol 29, pp. 1266-1272 (2026)
- Donnelly Samantha, Carlin Angela, , Mackintosh Kelly A, Basterfield Laura, O'Kane Maria
- BMJ Public Health Vol 4 (2026)
- , , Tomaz Simone A, Craig Leone C A, Robertson Jenni, Stewart Cameron, Inchley Joanna,
- 2026 Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Europe Conference (2026)
- , Woodside Andrew, Chong Kar Hau, Tremblay Mark, Okely Anthony, Maddren Claudia, ,
- 2026 Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Europe Conference (2026)
- , Robertson Kerry,
- 2026 Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Europe Conference (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
- 8/9/2026
- Host
- 14/8/2026
- Contributor
- 8/7/2026
- Contributor
- 8/7/2026
- Contributor
- 17/6/2026
- Speaker
- 16/6/2026
Projects
- Stewart, Ryan (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2026 - 14-Jan-2026
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator) Stewart, Ryan (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2026 - 23-Jan-2026
- 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) Carballo, Mia (Researcher)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
- Reilly, John (Principal Investigator) Bardid, Farid (Co-investigator)
- 30-Jan-2025 - 29-Jan-2026
Contact
Professor
John
Reilly
Physical Activity and Health
Email: john.j.reilly@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4235