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OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relation among children's physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and body mass index (BMI), while controlling for sex, family structure, and socioeconomic status.

DESIGN: Epidemiological study examining the relations among physical activity participation, sedentary behaviour (video game use and television (TV)/video watching), and BMI on a nationally representative sample of Canadian children.

SUBJECTS: A representative sample of Canadian children aged 7–11 (N= 7216) from the 1994 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth was used in the analysis.

MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity and sport participation, sedentary behaviour (video game use and TV/video watching), and BMI measured by parental report.

RESULTS: Both organized and unorganized sport and physical activity are negatively associated with being overweight (10–24% reduced risk) or …