Katharina Rüttger
PhD
- telephone:+49 (0) 331 977 -
- fax:+49 (0) 331 977 - 702564
- E-Mail:katharina.ruettgeruuni-potsdampde
address: Campus Golm
University of Potsdam
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25
Building 24, Room 1.32
14476 Potsdam
Germany
opening time: consulting hours
by appointment
Main areas of work/research:
- Obesity prevention and treatment
- Promotion of physical activity and active lifestyles
- Cardiometabolic health
- Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity
- Health promotion among sedentary occupational groups (e.g., truck drivers)
- Prevention and health promotion in everyday settings (e.g., daycare centers and schools)
- Behavior change related to physical activity
- Development and evaluation of practice-oriented intervention programs
CV
Academic Background and Professional Experience
- Since 06/2025: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Human Sciences, Chair of Health Education in Sport, University of Potsdam
- Since 2021: Lecturer, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences
- 2023–2025: Research Associate, Department of Health Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences
- 2021: Additional qualification: Obesity Trainer for Children and Adolescents – Focus on Physical Activity (AGA, DAG)
- 2018–2019: Research Assistant, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University
- 2016–2018: Student Research Assistant, German Sport University Cologne
- 2014–2016: Trainer in Rehabilitation and Preventive Exercise, Endura Training, Cologne
Academic Education
- 2019–2024: PhD on “Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Cardiometabolic Health in Truck Drivers”
(School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK) - 2014–2018: Bachelor of Science in Sport and Performance, German Sport University Cologne
Selected Publications
- Ruettger K et al (2025), An exploration of barriers and facilitators to healthy eating in HGV drivers, Health and Safety at work. 16(1), 75-82, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2024.12.001.
- Ruettger K. et al (2025), Assessment of UK Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers lifestyle behaviours: A cross-sectional study, J Occup Environ Med. 2025 Mar 1;67(3):e166-e174. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003296
- Ruettger K. et al (2022), Drivers with and without Obesity Respond Differently to a Multi-Component Health Intervention in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(23):15546. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192315546. PMID: 36497618; PMCID: PMC9739045.
- Ruettger K. et al (2022), Physical Activity, Sedentary Time and Cardiometabolic Health in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. J Occup Environ Med. 1;64(4):e217-e223. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002484
- Sayyah, M., Clemes, S., Maylor, B., Edwardson, C., Sherry, A., Ruettger, K., Chen, Y-L., Varela Mato, V., Guest, A., King, J., Paine, N., Rowlands, A. (2024). The Effect of Vehicle Motion (Cab Vibration) on Accelerometer Cut-Point Determined Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. doi=7. 10.1123/jmpb.2024-0027.
- Guest, A. J., Clemes, S. A., King, J. A., Chen, Y. L., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Sherry, A., Varela-Mato, V., & Paine, N. J. (2022). Attenuated Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Psychological Stress Predicts Future Fatigue Symptoms in Truck Drivers. Jorunal of occupational and environmental medicine/ Americal College of occupational and environmental Medicine. 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002715.
- Clemes, S. A., Varela-Mato, V., Bodicoat, D. H., Brookes, C. L., Chen, Y.-L., Edwardson, C. L., Gray, L. J., Guest, A. J., Johnson, V., Munir, F., Paine, N. J., Richardson, G., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Sherry, A., Suazo di Paola, A., Troughton, J., Yates, T., & King, J. A. (2022). The effectiveness of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT): A cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT. BMC Medicine.)
- Clemes, S. A., Varela-Mato, V., Bodicoat, D. H., Brookes, C. L., Chen, Y. -L., Edwardson, C. L., Gray, L. J., Guest, A. J., Johnson, V., Munir, F., Paine, N. J., Richardson, G., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Sherry, A., Suazo di Paola, A., Troughton, J., Yates, T., & King, J. A. (2022). A multicomponent structured health behaviour intervention to improve physical activity in long-distance HGV drivers: the SHIFT cluster RCT. Public Health Research. 10. 1-174.10.3310/PNOY9785.
- Guest, A. J., Paine, N. J., Chen, Y.-L., Chalkley, A., Munir, F., Edwardson, C. L., Gray, L. J., Johnson, V., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Sherry, A., Troughton, J., Varela-Mato, V., Yates, T., King, J., & Clemes, S. A. (2022). The structured health intervention for truckers (SHIFT) cluster randomised controlled trial: a mixed methods process evaluation. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19 (1), 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01316x
- Guest, A. J., Clemes, S. A., King, J. A., Chen, Y. L., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Sherry, A., Varela -Mato, V., & Paine, N. J. (2021). Attenuated cardiovascular reactivity is related to higher anxiety and fatigue symptoms in truck drivers. Psychophysiology, 58(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13872
- Longman, D. P., Shaw, C. N., Varela-Mato, V., Sherry, A. P., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Guest, A., Chen, Y. L., Paine, N. J., King, J. A., & Clemes, S. A. (2021). Time in nature associated with decreased fatigue in UK truck drivers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063158
- Sherry, A. P., Clemes, S. A., Chen, Y. L., Edwardson, C., Gray, L. J., Guest, A., King, J., Rowlands, A. v., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Varela-Mato, V., & Hartescu, I. (2022). Sleep duration and sleep efficiency in UK long-distance heavy goods vehicle drivers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 79 (2). https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-107643
- Sherry, A. P., Clemes, S. A., Chen, Y. L., Edwardson, C., Gray, L. J., Guest, A., King, J., Rowlands, A. v., Ruettger, K., Sayyah, M., Varela-Mato, V., & Hartescu, I. (2022). Sleep variability in UK long distance heavy goods vehicle drivers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine,http://journals.lww.com./joem/pages/default.aspx