Erlingur Sigurður Jóhannsson

SUCCESS IN RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND SCIENTIFIC WORK Erlingur Jóhannsson is a professor of sports and health sciences at the School of Education, University of Iceland. Erlingur's research is related to public health, welfare, people's lifestyles and sports activities. Erlingur has led numerous extensive research projects in recent years, both intervention- and longitudinal studies. The settings of these projects are diverse, but they have been carried out in the school system, companies and among the public. INTERVENTION STUDIES Among the intervention studies that Erlingur Johannsson has led are: I. Lifestyle of 7- to 9-year-old children – Intervention study for improved health, II. Health education of older age groups – Intervention study for improved health and better quality of life. III. Health of seafarers – Intervention study on physical activity and diet. The aim of these intervention studies was to examine whether it was possible to increase physical activity, improve diet and generally change people's lifestyles. The results showed that it is possible to have a significant impact on physical activity, diet and lifestyles of people of all ages with the right and well-designed interventions. Therefore, these studies have demonstrated that with the right preventive strategy, it is possible to improve people's health and well-being. INNOVATION: The practical value and innovation of these research projects is high, and they are important in the effort to improve people's health in modern society. Issues that have arisen because of these intervention studies are: I. Lifestyle of 7 to 9-year-old children – Intervention study for improved health. • The results of the study were used by the government to establish Health Promotion in primary schools in Iceland. • Sleep recommendations for children and young people were presented based on the results of the studies. • The podcast Heilshuhegðun ungra Íslendinga attracted a lot of attention, where the results of the study were discussed and suggestions for improvements were presented. II. Health education for older people - An intervention study to improve health and quality of life. • A very extensive study that triggered a great awakening among older people about the importance of health promotion and well-being of older people. III. Health of seafarers - An intervention study on exercise and diet. • A very extensive study that triggered a great awakening among seafarers about the importance of physical, mental and social health. LONGITUDINAL STUDIES Erlingur Johannsson is leading two very extensive Icelandic longitudinal studies: The Health Journey, participants are individuals born in 1988. Data on these individuals have been collected three times, i.e. 2003/2004, 2011/2012 and 2024/2025. Website: https://www.unak.is/is/rannsoknir/rannsoknir-vid-a/heilsuferdalagid/ The Health Behavior of Young Icelanders, participants are born in 1999 and data on these individuals has been collected at the ages of 7, 9, 15 and 17. Data was first collected in 2006, 2008, 2015 and most recently in 2017. Website: https://heilsuhegdun.hi.is/ The aim of these two longitudinal studies is to examine the status and long-term changes in the health, physical activity, endurance, sleep, mental well-being, academic achievement and lifestyle of young Icelanders. INNOVATION: It can be stated that the value and innovation of these longitudinal research projects are very high, and they are important in the effort to gather information about the health and well-being of people in modern society. The unique ability to follow participants over long period of life is possible in Iceland but impractical to do elsewhere. The scientific knowledge learned from these studies should be generalized to many developing countries where obesity, physical inactivity, mental health problems, stress, and sleep problems are widespread.