The National Public Health Partnership (NPHP) is responsible for identifying and developing strategic and integrated responses to public health priorities in Australia. It supports the Strategic Intergovernmental Forum of Physical Activity and Health (Sigpah) to provide leadership and ensure a co-ordinated approach to supporting all Australians to be physically active.

Sigpah members include health department representatives from all Australian States and Territories and the Australian Government as well as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Sports Commission.

In March 2003, the National Public Health Partnership (NPHP) agreed to support the development of a National Physical Activity for Health Action Plan by Sigpah and a literature review update was commissioned as a first step in the development of the Plan.

Conversion of this literature review into this special edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport was coordinated by Professor Wendy Brown from the School of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland.

The NPHP and Sigpah are pleased to support this edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport as a means of making this important information widely available.

Publication of this edition was also supported by the Australian Sports Medicine Federation Fellows and by the Premier's Physical Activity Taskforce, WA.

Contents of the Physical Activity Supplement

Physical activity and health: updating the evidence 2000-2003
WJ Brown
(free article)

Updating the evidence that physical activity is good for health: an epidemiological review 2000-2003
AE Bauman
(free article)

Evidence-based strategies to promote physical activity among children, adolescents and young adults: review and update
A Timperio, J Salmon and K Ball

Updating the evidence relating to physical activity intervention studies in older people
EV Cyarto, G Moorhead and WJ Brown

Physical activity in among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities
TR Shilton and WJ Brown

Physical activity interventions to prevent falls among older people: update of the evidence
C Sherrington, SR Lord and CF Finch

The effectiveness of physical activity interventions for the treatment of overweight and obesity and type 2 diabetes
YD Miller and DW Dunstan

Challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity in the workplace
AL Marshall

Promotion of physical activity in primary health care: update of the evidence on interventions
BJ Smith

Mediated approaches for influencing physical activity: update of the evidence on mass media, print, telephone and website delivery of interventions
AL Marshall, N Owen and AE Bauman

An update of recent evidence of the relationship between objective and self-report measures of the physical environment and physical activity behaviours
G McCormack, B Giles-Corti, a Lange, T Smith, K Martin and TJ Pikora

Develpments in National Physical Activity Policy: an international review and recommendations towards better practice
FC Bull, B Bellew, Schoppe and AE Bauman

Purchase the Physical Activity Supplement

The Physical Activity Supplement can be purchased for $15 plus postage and handling. Special discounted rates can be arranged for orders of more than 20. (Please contact SMA for the discount)

To order simply print off the Order Form and return it to SMA with payment.