These findings suggest that the relationships between the family environment and TV viewing and low-level activity are complex and that these behaviors are distinct.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of physical activity on the association between television viewing and overweight (body mass index (BMI) ! 25 kgam 2 ). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study administered by interview to adults randomly selected from the electronic white pages. SUBJECTS: 3392 adults (64% response rate) from a representative population sample in the State of New South Wales, Australia. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported height and weight, two-week leisure-time physical activity recall, one-week average television viewing recall. RESULTS: BMI and physical activity patterns were both associated with hours of television watched. Compared to those participants who reported watching less than one hour of television per day, those watching 1 to 2.5 hours were 93% more likely to be overweight (BMI ! 25 kgam 2 ), those watching 2.5 to 4 hours were 183% more likely to be overweight, those watching more than 4 hours per day were four times more likely to be overweight. Physical activity was not directly associated with being overweight, but an interaction between activity and television watching was present. Respondents in the low, moderate and high physical activity categories who reported watching more than 4 hours of television per day were twice as likely to be overweight compared to those who watched less than one hour of television per day, irrespective of physical activity participation. CONCLUSIONS: With approximately half the Australian adult population overweight or obese, these ®ndings indicate that public health strategies to reduce overweight and prevent weight gain may need to focus on reducing sedentary behaviours such as television viewing in addition to increasing physical activity.

Objectives: To document general practitioners’ (GPs) attitudes and practices regarding the prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Research Methods and Procedures: A cross‐sectional survey of a randomly selected sample of 1500 Australian GPs was conducted, of which 752 questionnaires were returned. The measures included views on weight management, definitions of success, views regarding the usefulness of drugs, approaches to and strategies recommended for weight management, and problems and frustrations in managing overweight and obesity. Results: GPs view weight management as important and feel they have an important role to play. Although they consider themselves to be well prepared to treat overweight patients, they believe that they have limited efficacy in weight management and find it professionally unrewarding. GPs view the assessment of a patient's dietary and physical activity habits and the provision of dietary and physical activity advice as very important. The approaches least likely to be considered important and/or least likely to be practiced were those that would support the patient in achieving and maintaining lifestyle change. Discussion: There remains considerable opportunity to improve the practice of GPs in their management of overweight and obesity. Although education is fundamental, it is important to acknowledge the constraints of the GPs’ existing working environment.

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The aim of this study was to describe the type, frequency, duration, and intensity of children’s physical activity and to examine differences by sex, age, and SES. Participants consisted of 5- to 6-year-old (n = 291) and 10- to 12-year-old (n = 919) children and their parents taking part in the Children’s Leisure Activities Study (CLASS). Parents completed proxy questionnaires about their child’s activity, and all children wore an accelerometer for 8 days. Accelerometry data showed that younger children accumulated approximately 4 hrs of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) per day, and older children accumulated approximately 2 hrs per day. Fewer than three- quarters of 10- to 12-year-old boys and less than half of 10- to 12-year-old girls recorded 120 min of MVPA per day. Significant differences in the number of activities, as well as the type and frequency of activities performed, were observed by age and sex. The findings indicate that physical activities that appeal to older girls, such as lifestyle, noncompetitive activities, should be considered in the development of physical activity promotion strategies.