Jostein Steene-Johannessen

Jostein Steene-Johannessen is Professor at the Department of Sports Medicine at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He has established himself as a leading researcher in physical activity epidemiology with a career spanning multiple Norwegian institutions. Prior to his current position, he served as associate professor and research director at the Department of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn og Fjordane University College (now Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) from 2009-2013, and subsequently as associate professor and academic study leader for the bachelor's degree in Physical Activity and Nutrition at Kristiania University College from 2013-2018.

Dr. Steene-Johannessen earned his PhD in 2009 as part of PANCS1 (Physical Activity among Norwegian Children Study), a nationally representative epidemiological investigation examining physical activity levels, physical fitness, and health variables among Norwegian children and adolescents. His academic trajectory demonstrates consistent focus on population health metrics and the relationship between physical activity patterns and health outcomes across the lifespan.

His research expertise centers on physical activity epidemiology, with particular emphasis on school-based physical activity interventions and the metabolic effects of breaking up sedentary time. He employs both objective measurement techniques (primarily accelerometry) and population surveillance systems to investigate how physical activity influences cardiometabolic health. His methodological contributions address critical challenges in physical activity measurement and provide evidence for public health recommendations.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a strong pattern of large-scale epidemiological studies examining physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health outcomes. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals including The Lancet and British Journal of Sports Medicine, often as part of international collaborations involving millions of participants. His research spans multiple life stages from children to older adults, with particular attention to longitudinal health outcomes and objective measurement techniques.

Dr. Steene-Johannessen has led or contributed significantly to major research projects including PANCS (Physical Activity among Norwegian Children and Adolescents), ScIM (School in Motion), and ASK (Active Smarter Kids). He currently serves as Principal Investigator for PANCS4, Norway's fourth wave of national physical activity surveillance, and leads the 'Generation Sedentary' project investigating how interrupting sedentary time with physical activity affects glucose and lipid metabolism. His work has direct implications for public health policy and clinical recommendations regarding physical activity and sedentary behavior.

His teaching responsibilities include physical activity and health, research methods and statistics, and measurement techniques for physical activity assessment. Through his extensive publication record and leadership in national surveillance systems, Dr. Steene-Johannessen has established himself as a leading authority in physical activity epidemiology both in Norway and internationally.