To examine the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving physical activity, diet, and/or weight-related behaviors amongst university/college students. Five online databases were searched (January 1970 to April 2014). Experimental study designs were eligible for inclusion. Data extraction was performed by one reviewer using a standardized form developed by the researchers and checked by a second reviewer. Data were described in a narrative synthesis and meta-analyses were conducted when appropriate. Study quality was also established. Forty-one studies were included; of these, 34 reported significant improvements in one of the key outcomes. Of the studies examining physical activity 18/29 yielded significant results, with meta-analysis demonstrating significant increases in moderate physical activity in intervention groups compared to control. Of the studies examining nutrition, 12/24 reported significantly improved outcomes; only 4/12 assessing weight loss outcomes found significant weight reduction. This appears to be the first systematic review of physical activity, diet and weight loss interventions targeting university and college students. Tertiary institutions are appropriate settings for implementing and evaluating lifestyle interventions, however more research is needed to improve such strategies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0203-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Objective: To examine women's weight control practices and their effectiveness in preventing weight gain. Design: Retrospective cohort study of weight control practices and 2-year weight change among mid-age women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Subjects: 11 589 Australian women (aged 47-52 years). Measurements: The prevalence and types of self-reported weight control practices used were assessed by a nine-item instrument. Two-year weight change was self-reported and adjusted for baseline body mass index (BMI) and other potential confounders.Results: Seventy-four per cent of the cohort (N ¼ 8556) reported actively trying to control their weight. Dietary modification was used more frequently than exercise. Two-thirds of the weight-controlling women used a combination of practices, the two most common being 'decreased food quantity, cut down on fats/sugars and exercise' (32%, baseline BMI 25.87(0.10)), and 'decreased food quantity and cut down on fats/sugars without exercise' (15.6%, baseline BMI 27.04(0.14)). Potentially healthdamaging practices (smoking, laxatives, fasting) were relatively uncommon, at 7.9%. Only one combination of practices (decreased food quantity, cut down on fats/sugars, use of a commercial weight loss programme and exercise) prevented mean weight gain (À0.03 kg), whereas the mean (s.d.) weight of the cohort increased ( þ 1.19(4.78)) over the 2-year period. Conclusions: The majority of mid-age women attempting weight control used practices consistent with public health messages. Despite their efforts, the group was mostly unsuccessful in preventing weight gain. Public health authorities and health practitioners may need to make more quantitative recommendations and emphasize the importance of balancing physical activity with dietary intake to achieve successful weight control for women at this life stage.

This paper draws on qualitative case-study research to discuss the impact of managerialism on the work organisation of public sector health professionals in Australia. The case studies included 71 semi-structured interviews with a broad range of public sector health professionals (predominantly nursing and allied health professionals, with some doctors and managers). The data are used to examine the implications of managerialism for the organisation of professional (public) bureaucracies. The findings show that while health professionals were able to exert their agency to influence managerial processes, the incorporation of managerial strategies into professional practice placed constraints upon professional autonomy. The impact of managerialism on professional bureaucracies is examined using the neo-Weberian framework of hyper-rationality, an ideal type derived from a combination of four forms of rationality identified in Weber's work: practical, formal, substantive and theoretical rationality. Applied to the social organisation of health-care work, this paper critically examines the utility of the hyper-rationality ideal type, noting its limitations and the insights it provides in conceptualising the impact of managerialism on professional (public) bureaucracies.

This article explores male perceptions and attitudes toward violence against women in Indonesia. It analyzes interview data from Indonesian men collected as part of a large multimethod Australian government-funded project on masculinities and violence in two Asian countries. Reluctance to talk about violence against women was evident, and the accounts of those men who did respond referred to three justificatory discourses: denial, blaming the victim, and exonerating the male perpetrator. The findings support continuation of government and nongovernmental organization (NGO) projects aimed at both empowering women and reeducating men.