VALIDITY OF THE 7-DAY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECALL IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the criterion validity of the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) in a sample of moderately overweight, young adult men and women. METHODS: Average total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) from the PAR were compared with the same parameters assessed by doubly labeled ater (DLW û 14 d) in 17 men, age = 23.9 ± 3.8 yrs., BMI = 29.8 ± 2.7 and 30 women, age = 23.1 ± 4.5 yrs., BMI = 29.4 ± 2.7) who volunteered to participate in a 16-month supervised aerobic exercise trial. PAEE was estimated from the PAR [sum of light, moderate, hard, and very hard activity energy expenditure] and from DLW [0.9 * TDEE û resting metabolic rate (indirect calorimetry)]. RESULTS: No significant differences in TDEE (kcal/d) were noted between the PAR (2817 ± 424) and DLW (2826 ± 613) for the complete sample (n = 47) or for men (PAR = 3153 ± 391, DLW = 3317 ± 658) or women (PAR = 2626 ± 312, DLW = 2548 ± 369). TDEE from the PAR and DLW were significantly correlated (p < .01) in the total sample (r = 0.59) but not in men (r = 0.36) or women (r = 0.32) considered separately. The mean PAEE (kcal/d) from the PAR was not different from DLW in the total sample (PAR = 782 ± 120, DLW = 820 ± 455) as well as in men (PAR = 872 ± 117, DLW = 953 ± 587) and women (PAR = 732 ± 90, DLW = 744 ± 349). PAEE from the PAR and DLW were not significantly correlated in the total sample (r = 0.16), men (r = 0.08), or women (r = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The PAR provided a reasonable estimate of both the mean TDEE and PAEE in this sample; however, the lack of a significant correlation between the PAR and DLW suggests that estimates of energy expenditure on an individual basis using the PAR were subject to considerable error. Supported by NIH DK 49181 and M01 RR00051