Mats Hallgren

Mats Hallgren

Principal Researcher
Visiting address: Solnavägen 1 E, 11365 Stockholm
Postal address: K9 Global folkhälsa, K9 GPH EPiCSS Dalman, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:
  • Department of Global Public Health
  • Epidemiology of Psychiatric Conditions, Substance use and Social Environment (EPiCSS) – Emilie Agardh's & Renee Gardner's Research Group

About me

  • Mats is Principal Researcher at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and Associate Professor at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Australia. His research examines the effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour (including screen use) in populations at risk of poor mental and physical health. He has designed and lead to successful completion five community-based randomized controlled trials involving >1300 participants, and more than 100 large-scale epidemiological studies. Findings from his research have directly impacted public health guidelines internationally. As principal investigator, he has received >16 million SEK in competitive grant funding. Editor in Chief of the scientific journal Mental Health and Physical Activity (2022-onwards). He has 161 scientific publications, H-index=51, >6000 citations. 

Research

  • Mats leads a program of research examining links between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and mental health. His completed projects include: (1) the first community-based RCT of exercise as stand-alone treatment for alcohol use disorder (FitForChange); (2) a dual site (Sweden-India) RCT of yoga-based exercise to promote wellbeing in physically inactive older adults (FitForAge); and (3) the largest international trial of exercise for depression (Br J Psychiatry 2015/16). He is the principal investigator of an ongoing RCT of physical activity for adults with post COVID-19 condition. In addition to this experimental work, Mats has led a series of large-scale observational studies examining the relationships between sedentary behaviour and depression in adults and adolescents. This work is presented in a leading sports science journal (Ex Sport Sci Reviews, 2020). His current research focuses on how sedentary screen use (i.e., social media, gaming, etc.) impacts brain activity, mental health, and physical activity levels in young people.  

Teaching

  • Experienced and qualified university lecturer and supervisor. Mats gives seminars on physical activity and mental health to graduate students, clinicians, and the general public. Main supervisor to 17 post-graduate research students in public health science and psychology. 

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 March 2023 - 28 February 2026
    Background: Post COVID-19 condition (or long COVID) is a newly recognized health condition that lasts for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis (WHO, 2022). Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, and impaired cognition (‘brain fog’). Pain is frequently reported, and sleep quality is often reduced. Over time, these symptoms have a detrimental effect on quality of life and mental health. Sweden and India have experienced major COVID-19 epidemics. In both countries, middle-aged and older adults have been disproportionately affected. Recent estimates suggest that ~25,000 Swedish adults have subsequently been diagnosed with post COVID. Physical activity (PA) levels are reduced in most people affected by post COVID, which increases the risk of multimorbidity. Conventional exercise (e.g., running) is not suitable for many of those affected. Yoga is shown to have positive effects on many of the symptoms associated with post COVID and could help those affected to regain PA levels and improve quality of life. Aim: To improve long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and promote healthy ageing in middle-aged and older adults (aged 50–75 years) with post COVID using yoga-based exercise.  Methods: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial (n=115) to compare the effects of a 12-week yoga intervention to a health promotion intervention for post COVID. Both interventions will be offered as adjuncts to usual care administered by a physician. The primary outcome is HR-QoL (SF-36). Secondary outcomes include self-reported fatigue, breathing difficulty, anxiety and depressive symptoms and cognition. Changes will be assessed on three occasions: baseline, post-intervention (12-weeks), and 6-month follow-up. A comparable intervention will be implemented in India and the results compared. A cost-effectiveness study is planned.Our Indian collaborators are experts in the design and assessment of yoga interventions
    knowledge that will be transferred to Sweden during the project. India will benefit from collaborative ties with Karolinska Institutet, and from methodological expertise. Our team includes experts in rehabilitation medicine, physical activity, neuropsychology, and international health. The PI in Sweden has a track record evaluating the health effects of yoga interventions in middle aged and older adults, including his recent Sweden-India collaboration, FitForAge (2017-20)
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 December 2018 - 30 November 2019
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 August 2017 - 31 December 2019
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2017 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 December 2016 - 30 November 2017

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