四虎影院

Esther van Sluijs, Professor of Behavioural Epidemiology, joined 四虎影院 University in 2026, having previously worked at the University of Cambridge where an MRC Programme Leader at the Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS) Epidemiology (formerly the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit).

At Cambridge she led an intramural MRC research programme on Behavioural Epidemiology and Interventions in Young People. Her academic research expertise focuses on understanding and changing young people’s physical activity and dietary behaviour. Her experience spans observational and intervention research in school and community settings. In her research she applies a wide range of methodological approaches to improve understanding of intervention implementation and effectiveness, and drive progress. Esther has held leadership positions in the UKCRC-registered Cambridge Epidemiology & Trials Unit and the NIHR School for Public Health Research (NIHR-SPHR), and she retains an Honorary Senior Fellow position at Cambridge.

As part of her position at 四虎影院, Esther is seconded to the role of Chief Scientific Officer for the Adolescent Health 四虎影院 (60% secondment). The is a major new research project that aims to recruit 100,000 UK volunteers aged 8-18 years and follow their health and wellbeing for at least 10 years. As Chief Scientific Officer, Esther provides strategic leadership on feasibility & piloting, visit content, and study design.

Esther is a public health researcher, applying epidemiological research methods to understand and change young people’s behaviour. Her research aims to develop and evaluate interventions to promote physical activity and dietary behaviour in young people, and use observational research to further understand where, when and how health promotion interventions in young people may be targeted. Guided by the ecological model of behaviour, various domains of influence are considered in both observational and intervention research. This includes psychological influences, as well as socio-cultural and environmental influences.

Esther has led and been involved in various projects focussed on assessing personal, socio-cultural and environmental determinants of physical activity behaviour (such as , , , ), as well as natural experimental studies and researcher-led interventions to study impacts on changes in physical activity (such as , , , and ) and systematic reviews of the literature.

Esther has successfully supervised and mentored many doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, supported multiple researchers to successful awards of independent fellowships, and has received awards for her inclusive approach to capacity building. She has received grants from funders including MRC, NIHR and ESRC.

Current external activities

• Chief Scientific Officer, Adolescent Health 四虎影院 (2025- present)
• Deputy Editor, Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH) (2024-present)
• Member of WHO External Steering group for “Updating of global youth estimates of physical inactivity” (2024-present)
• Expert member, Science Media Centre (2016-present)
• Grant reviewing (and panel membership) for national and international funders (including UKRI, NIHR, Huo Family Foundation, Dutch NOW)

Key examples of former external activities

• Expert Advisor WHO for “Physical activity measurement and surveillance in adolescents” (2024)
• Associate Editor International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical activity (IJBNPA) (2016-2020)
• Member of Trial Steering Committee “Girls Active” (2015-2017; PI: Davies)
• Member of Children and Young People’s Expert Working Group for UK CMO Physical Activity Guidelines Update (2018)
• Member of Expert Group on International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on the ‘Health and Fitness of Young People through Physical Activity and Sport’ (2011)
• Member of NICE Programme Development Group ‘Children and Physical Activity’ (2007/08)

• van Sluijs, E. M. F., Ekelund, U., Crochemore-Silva, I., Guthold, R., Ha, A., Lubans, D., . . . Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2021). Physical activity behaviours in adolescence: current evidence and opportunities for intervention.. Lancet, 398(10298), 429-442. doi:
• Corder, K., Sharp, S. J., Jong, S., Foubister, C., Brown, H. E., Wells, E. K., . . . Van Sluijs, E. (2020). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the GoActive intervention to increase physical activity among UK adolescents: a cluster randomised controlled trial. PLoS Medicine. doi:
• Guagliano, J. M., Armitage, S. M., Brown, H. E., Coombes, E., Fusco, F., Hughes, C., . . . van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2020). A whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: findings from the families reporting every step to health (FRESH) pilot randomised controlled trial.. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 17(1), 120. doi:
• Xiao, C., Scales, J., Chavda, J., Dove, R. E., Tsocheva, I., Wood, H. E., . . . Panter, J. (2025). Correction: Children's Health in London and Luton (CHILL) cohort: a 12-month natural experimental study of the effects of the Ultra Low Emission Zone on children's travel to school.. In Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act (Vol. 22, Iss. 1, pp. 107). England. doi:
• Van Sluijs, E. M. F., Ekelund, U., Hallal, P. C., Hansen, B. H., Panter, J., Salmon, J., . . . Atkin, A. J. (2024). Family Car Ownership: Driving Inactivity in Young People? Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in the International Children's Accelerometry Database.. J Phys Act Health, 21(12), 1391-1400. doi:
• Maulida, R., Smith, A. D., Weimann, A., Oni, T., & van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2024). Consideration of Young People's Active Travel in National Urban Policy Documents in Asia: A Documentary Analysis.. J Phys Act Health, 21(12), 1423-1434. doi:
• Pfledderer, C. D., von Klinggraeff, L., Burkart, S., da Silva Bandeira, A., Lubans, D. R., Jago, R., . . . Beets, M. W. (2024). Consolidated guidance for behavioral intervention pilot and feasibility studies. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 10(1). doi: