Measurement of physical activity for public health purposes : validity and reliability of the International Physical Activity Questionaire(IPAQ)
type: CreativeWork
description: Physical inactivity is a well-recognized risk factor for chronic diseases of lifestyle and has been associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality. Current recommendations for the "dose" of physical activity that may be regarded as "protective" for these chronic diseases are 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, or preferably all, days of the week. However, when quantifying physical activity, it is not clear which factors influence the reporting of moderate and vigorous activity levels. Even in the literature, there is lack of agreement on the energy expenditure corresponding to so-called 'moderate' and 'vigorous' physical activity. Background (study 1): Self- reported physical activity levels are inversely related to chronic disease risk factors. The strength of this association depends, in part, on quantifying the intensity of activity that may be regarded as 'moderate or vigorous', which may be confounded by individual and cultural perceptions of relative exercise intensity, age, fitness, height, and habitual levels of activity. Aim (study 1): The purpose of this study was to i) examine the individual and group differences in self-selected walking pace corresponding to symptoms used to describe moderate and vigorous intensity and ii) to determine factors that may be associated with these differences. Methods (study 1): A convenience sample of 63 women and 39 men were recruited (N=102). Subjects were asked to walk for six minutes on an indoor track at a pace they regard as 'moderate', rest until heart rate returns to pre-exercise levels, then walk at a pace they consider 'vigorous'. Habitual levels of energy expenditure (EE), maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and% fat were also determined. Results (study 1): Mean self-selected walking pace for moderate activity levels was 5.54 km-h⁻¹ (95% Confidence Interval (C.I.): 5.40; 5.69), and corresponded to 58% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (%HR.max) (95% C.I.: 56; 6…
abstract: Physical inactivity is a well-recognized risk factor for chronic diseases of lifestyle and has been associated with an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality. Current recommendations for the "dose" of physical activity that may be regarded as "protective" for these chronic diseases are 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, or preferably all, days of the week. However, when quantifying physical activity, it is not clear which factors influence the reporting of moderate and vigorous activity levels. Even in the literature, there is lack of agreement on the energy expenditure corresponding to so-called 'moderate' and 'vigorous' physical activity. Background (study 1): Self- reported physical activity levels are inversely related to chronic disease risk factors. The strength of this association depends, in part, on quantifying the intensity of activity that may be regarded as 'moderate or vigorous', which may be confounded by individual and cultural perceptions of relative exercise intensity, age, fitness, height, and habitual levels of activity. Aim (study 1): The purpose of this study was to i) examine the individual and group differences in self-selected walking pace corresponding to symptoms used to describe moderate and vigorous intensity and ii) to determine factors that may be associated with these differences. Methods (study 1): A convenience sample of 63 women and 39 men were recruited (N=102). Subjects were asked to walk for six minutes on an indoor track at a pace they regard as 'moderate', rest until heart rate returns to pre-exercise levels, then walk at a pace they consider 'vigorous'. Habitual levels of energy expenditure (EE), maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and% fat were also determined. Results (study 1): Mean self-selected walking pace for moderate activity levels was 5.54 km-h⁻¹ (95% Confidence Interval (C.I.): 5.40; 5.69), and corresponded to 58% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (%HR.max) (95% C.I.: 56; 6…
author: Bohlmann, Isabelle Marie Therese
language: eng
date published: 2002
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:22:49Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: MRC/UCT RU for Exercise and Sport Medicine

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26547