Ian Janssen

Dr. Ian Janssen is a Professor cross-appointed between the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Obesity. His research focuses on the epidemiology of movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) and their impacts on health across populations, particularly in children and adults. Dr. Janssen’s work emphasizes surveillance of physical inactivity and obesity levels, and he has led projects funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Notably, he pioneered a study using GPS-enabled smartwatches to track physical activity patterns in hundreds of Canadian children, linking environmental factors to behavioral outcomes.

His educational background includes a PhD and MSc from Queen’s University. He actively supervises students across undergraduate, MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral levels, focusing on epidemiological methods in movement behavior research. Key research themes include optimal physical activity doses, sedentary behavior health impacts, and the interplay between movement behaviors and sleep. Dr. Janssen has published extensively, with over 35,000 citations, and contributes to policy through initiatives like Canada’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines.

Dr. Janssen’s awards include the Canada Research Chair, recognizing his leadership in physical activity and obesity research. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, addressing global health challenges such as climate change’s impact on movement behaviors and the socioeconomic determinants of health equity. He maintains affiliations with Queen’s School of Medicine and the Faculty of Health Sciences, reinforcing his translational research approach.