A kindergarten cardiovascular risk surveillance study: CARDIAC-Kinder.

Objective: To evaluate an intervention aimed at increasing family physical activity and parent education about diet and activity for kindergarten students and issues related to their children's BMI.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial design was used to assess intervention impact in parental report of child diet and physical activity, and step logs over a 4-week period.

Results: Participants in the intervention group reported that their children obtained more steps by the end of the program period, were more active, and had consumed fewer sweets than the comparison group.

Environmental perceptions related to physical activity in high- and low-risk counties.

To identify whether perceptions about the physical activity environment were related to the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, residents from high-risk (n = 153) or low-risk (n = 100) counties were interviewed. County risk status was determined by the prevalence of cardiovascular mortality, overweight, and sedentary lifestyle. Key public officials in the same counties were also interviewed.