Global Physical Activity Questionnaire Version Research Articles

The Igbo version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)- A cross-cultural adaptation study

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) plays a critical role in preventing non-communicable diseases, and maintaining the overall health and well-being of adults. PA surveillance has become a global concern leading to the development of numerous surveys for its measurement. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) merges the advantages of both the short and long versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) by incorporating various domains (work, transport, and leisure time), while still maintaining a significantly shorter length. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the original English version of GPAQ to the Igbo culture and environment.MethodsThe original version of GPAQ (GPAQ) was translated, synthesized, back-translated, and subjected to expert panel review before producing the final Igbo version of the GPAQ (GPAQ-I). The GPAQ and GPAQ-I were administered to 155 community-dwelling adults (36.1% males and 63.9% females) living in Nnewi who were recruited consecutively. The data obtained was analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviations, Spearman rank order test, and Mann-Whitney U test with p-value set at 0.05.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the scores on the English and Igbo versions of the GPAQ (p < 0.001). The correlations between the corresponding domains and total scores on both versions of the GPAQ (rho = 1.0)showed excellent concurrent agreement.ConclusionThe successfully adapted GPAQ-I demonstrated a strong agreement with the original English version. Further psychometric testing is required to fully establish its internal consistency, reliability, and validity.

Visceral adipose index, lipid accumulation product, and selected cardiometabolic risk markers among postmenopausal Sudanese women: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Sub-Saharan African countries, data examining postmenopausal women's cardiometabolic risk (CMR) remains limited. Our study aimed to assess the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and physical activity levels of postmenopausal women and determine their CMR. MethodsA cross-sectional study included 224 postmenopausal women aged ≥47 years recruited from Khartoum State, Sudan. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Physical activity levels were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. Fasting blood samples (5 mL) were collected to determine the lipid profile. The VAI and LAP were calculated as indicators for visceral adiposity, whereas AIP was calculated as an indicator of CVD risk. ResultsThe postmenopausal women's mean age was 62.4 ± 10.2 years. Women (29.2%; 54/185) were physically inactive, with most inactive women being >64 years and having ≥5 CVD risk factors compared with the active and very active women with 3–4 CVD risk factors. Women had high total cholesterol (24.6%), triglycerides (26.6%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (14.3%), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (61.2%) levels. Moreover, women (33.5%) had a high CVD risk. In multiple regression analyses, AIP increased significantly with VAI and BMI. The ROC analysis revealed that the highest and statistically significant AUC was recorded for VAI followed by LAP among postmenopausal women, suggesting their diagnostic significance for CVD risk. ConclusionVAI and LAP were closely associated with an increased risk of CVD in postmenopausal Sudanese women and were considered the best diagnostic performance.

Assessment of Physical activity Level and Sedentary Behaviour Among Pune City Police Personnel Using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire: A Survey

Background: Policemen being an integral part of the law implementation system have long working hours with huge workloads. They may not be able to save time for regular exercise or eat timely healthy meals which may put them at high risk of developing non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or lifestyle disorders such as obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess their existing physical activity level and sedentary behaviour using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2.0. Objective: To assess the level of physical activity in police officers during work, travel and leisure-time and also determine the sedentary behaviour in them. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 policemen, 168 males and 102 females, from 16 different police station of the Pune city using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Along with the analysis of demographic factors, data was analysed to evaluate if the study participants met the criteria for physical activity recommended by WHO. Participants were then divided into different categories depending on their energy expenditure i.e., MET-mins/week. Their sedentary behavior was calculated in terms of hours spent in sitting position. Result: Out of the total study participants, 50.4% were physically active and 49.6% were physically inactive.3.7% study participants were involved in the moderate-intensity physical activity at the workplace; 32.2% study participants were active in travel domain and 54.8%in leisure-time domain.12.2% of study participants were involved in vigorous-intensity physical activity in leisure-time domain only. 134 participants were inactive, 132 were low-active, 4 were moderately-active with not a single participant in highly-active category. The average amount of time spent sitting in the male participants was 6.11 + 3.03 hours whereas in female participants it was 7.50 + 2.62 hours. Conclusion: Even though 50.4% policemen were physically active, most of them were “low- active” and very few were “moderately-active” whereas not a single study participant was found to be “highly-active”. Sedentary behaviour in terms of average amount of time spent sitting was found to be more in female than male participants. Also,51.11% percentage of the study participants belonged to the overweight and obese category. Thus, there is huge scope for improving the physical activity level as well reducing the sedentary behavior in these professionals. KEY WORDS: GPAQ, physical activity, sedentary behavior, police personnel, Pune city.

Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour among Panamanian Adults: Results from the National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA) 2019.

Physical inactivity (PI) has been described as an independent risk factor for a large number of major non-communicable diseases and is associated with an increased risk of premature death. Additionally, sedentary behaviour has been associated with increased overall mortality. We estimated the national prevalence of PI and sedentary behaviour using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. Using unconditional logistic regressions, the possible risk factors for PI were assessed. Over half of the people included in this study (54.9%; 95% CI: 54.1-57.3%) were physically inactive, with the median time spent engaged in sedentary behaviour being 120 min per day. Statistically significant associations with PI were observed with regard to sex, living area, and alcohol consumption. PI prevalence in Panama was elevated and showed a sex difference (women: 64.7%, 95% CI: 63.7-66.7%; men: 43.4%, 95% CI: 41.5-47.5%). According to our analysis of three-domain-related physical activities, the main contribution to the total estimated energy expenditure of physical activity/week came from the transport domain, followed by the work/household domain, and the least significant contributor was consistently the domain of exercise- and sports-related physical activities.

Reliability and validity of a Global Physical Activity Questionnaire adapted for use among pregnant women in Nepal

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) plays an important role in optimizing health outcomes throughout pregnancy. In many low-income countries, including Nepal, data on the associations between PA and pregnancy outcomes are scarce, likely due to the lack of validated questionnaires for assessing PA in this population. Here we aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of an adapted version of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) among a sample of pregnant women in Nepal.MethodsA cohort of pregnant women (N=101; age 25.9±4.1 years) was recruited from a tertiary, peri-urban hospital in Nepal. An adapted Nepali version of GPAQ was administered to gather information about sedentary behavior (SB) as well as moderate and vigorous PA across work/domestic tasks, travel (walking/bicycling), and recreational activities, and was administered twice and a month apart in both the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Responses on GPAQ were used to determine SB (min/day) and total moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA; min/week) across all domains. GPAQ was validated against PA data collected by a triaxial accelerometer (Axivity AX3; UK) worn by a subset of the subjects (n=21) for seven consecutive days in the 2nd trimester. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Spearman’s rho were used to assess the reliability and validity of GPAQ.ResultsAlmost all of the PA in the sample was attributed to moderate activity during work/domestic tasks or travel. On average, total MVPA was higher by 50 minutes/week in the 2nd trimester as compared to the 3rd trimester. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, almost all of the participants were classified as having a low or moderate level of PA. PA scores for all domains showed moderate to good reliability across both the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, with ICCs ranging from 0.45 (95%CI: (0.17, 0.64)) for travel PA at 2nd trimester to 0.69 (95%CI: (0.51, 0.80)) for travel PA at 3rd trimester. Reliability for total MVPA was higher in the 3rd trimester compared to 2nd trimester [ICCs 0.62 (0.40, 0.75) vs. 0.55 (0.32, 0.70)], whereas the opposite was true for SB [ICCs 0.48 (0.19, 0.67) vs. 0.64 (0.46, 0.76)]. There was moderate agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometer for total MVPA (rho = 0.42; p value <0.05) while the agreement between the two was poor for SB (rho= 0.28; p value >0.05).ConclusionsThe modified GPAQ appears to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing moderate PA, but not SB, among pregnant women in Nepal.

Applying the behavior change wheel to identify pandemic-related attitudes and feelings about physical activity as predictors of physical activity level among university students in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent systematic review found a significant drop in physical activity (PA) among university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Identifying students’ attitudes and feelings about PA and coronavirus, which could facilitate or hinder PA, is essential to guide intervention planning. Therefore, this study aimed to examine attitudes and feelings about PA and coronavirus as predictors of PA levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study among undergraduate university students in Indonesia to collect their PA levels using the global PA questionnaire version 2 and their attitudes and feelings about PA in pandemic situations. A binomial logistic regression has been conducted to predict whether students will sufficiently engage in PA based on their attitudes and feelings related to PA, coronavirus, and demographic characteristics. Results from 588 undergraduate students (75% female) showed that students perceived the health benefits of PA, perceived feeling guilty about wanting to do PA during the pandemic, body mass index (BMI), and field of study were statistically significant predictors of PA levels. An increase of one unit of perceived health benefits of PA increases the odds of meeting the PA guidelines by 2.313 (95% confidence interval 1.708–3.132, p &amp;lt; 0.001). On the other hand, raising one point of feeling guilty about conducting PA was associated with 1.285 times lower odds (95% confidence interval 1.062–1.558, p = 0.01) of meeting the PA guidelines. Thus, intervention should increase students’ awareness of the physical health benefits of PA during the pandemic and reduce their feeling of guilty about conducting the PA.

Impact of exercise as a complementary management strategy in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo measure the impact of 12 weeks of physical exercise as complementary management strategy on quality of life (QOL) in people with epilepsy (PWE). MethodsIn a parallel-group, randomized controlled study with blinded outcome assessment, PWE of 18–65 years old, smartphone users were randomized into two groups. The exercise group was advised minimum 150 min per week of moderate–intense aerobic activity, as per current WHO recommendation [1], in addition to standard medical care; the control group received only standard medical care. QOL was assessed using Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) inventory [2,3]; physical activity, with Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAQ), and Pedometer Step Counter (a smartphone-based activity tracker application), at baseline and after 12 weeks. Body weight, body mass index, seizure frequency, and stigma scores (Epilepsy Stigma Scale Austin and colleagues) [4] were also noted. ResultsOne hundred and seventeen PWE were recruited (58 exercise, 59 control). Although there was an improvement in the physical activity correlates after 12 weeks compared to mean values at baseline, the differences were not significant between the groups. The total QOL mean scores at baseline in the exercise and control groups were 64.9 and 63.7 (p = 0.597) and after 12 weeks, 68.4 and 66.9 (p = 0.660), respectively. However, intragroup comparison of energy/fatigue score in the exercise group showed significant change with a p value of 0.009 and intragroup comparison of Overall QOL score in the control group showed a significant change with a p value of 0.003. Similar improvement was seen in stigma scores (p = 0.500) and seizure frequency (p = 0.388) at 12 weeks in exercise and control groups. After 12 weeks, mean values of METS ((metabolic equivalents) were 794.81 and 714.27 (p = 0.159), steps per day were 4018.32 and 3730.0 (p = 0.314), calories spent per day were 173.85 and 159.68 (p = 0.320 and distance walked per day in meters were 2576.52 and 2198.42 (p = 0.072), in the exercise and control groups, respectively. SignificanceRegular physical activity for at least 150 min per week, in the form of moderate–intense aerobic exercises resulted in positive yet non-significant improvement of QOL, seizure frequency, and stigma in PWE.

LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN KALABURAGI, NORTH KARNATAKA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

Objective: Physical activity (PA) is associated with several health benefits. Level of PA among undergraduate medical students is less studied. The objective of the study is to assess the level of PA among medical students in a medical college in North Karnataka, Kalburgi district. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 developed by the WHO was done among 167 study participants. The ration of male to female were 69:98. The total level of PA in three domains, namely, work-related PA, travel to and from places-related PA and leisure time PA were calculated and were expressed as MET-min per week. Results: About 90% of the students have PA levels over 600 MET-min per week. 10% of students showed inactive PA levels (&lt;600 MET-min per week). The level of PA during work was more than the travel to and from places-related PA and leisure time PA. Male participants were found to be significantly more active than female participants in work-related PA and leisure time vigorous PA. Travel-related PA was similar in both male and female participants. Conclusion: The study provides MET-min per week score in undergraduate medical student which could provide baseline values for students of a medical college in North Karnataka. The data collected could be compared with the values obtained from other part of the state and our country.

Adaptation of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) into Turkish: A validation and reliability study.

Objectives The aim of this study was to adapt the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) into Turkish and evaluate its reliability and validity among Bornova Municipality employees. Patients and methods The questionnaire was given its final Turkish form after its translation by two independent translators, a consensus meeting with both translators and the revision of the back-translation. An expert panel was organized for face validity and expert opinions were collected for content validity. The data of the study were collected in Municipality of Bornova district, Izmir province of Turkey between August 2016 and November 2016. Test-retest was used for reliability, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used for concurrent validity, and a pedometer was used for criterion validity. Among a total of 2,137 workers, a sample size of 352 employees was determined using 33% prevalence with 5% error margin, 95% confidence interval, and 20% non-response rate. The participants were selected with systematic sampling and 287 (81.5%) workers (183 males, 104 females; mean age: 38.9±8.5 years; range, 22 to 63 years) participated in the study. Results Reliability coefficients were substantial, near perfect (Kappa 0.74-0.87, p<0.001; Spearman rho 0.77-0.91, p<0.001). A substantial, near perfect relationship was found between IPAQ and GPAQ (r=0.79-0.94, p<0.001). For criterion validity, a fair relationship was found between the pedometer results and GPAQ (r=0.32, p=0.001). As for discriminant validity, the participants with physically active jobs had higher levels of physical activity compared to others (median: 3,240, 960 metabolic equivalent [MET]-min/per week, p<0.001). Those with an income below the poverty line had median 2,400 MET-min/week compared to 1,200 for participants above the poverty line (p<0.001). A significant difference was found among different education duration of employment groups. Conclusion The Turkish version of GPAQ is reliable and valid. Further validity and reliability studies of the GPAQ among non-working groups such as housewives, students, and unemployed ones can be recommended. Based on these findings, the GPAQ can be used as a valid and reliable tool in the Turkish population.

Assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in bachelors of computer science students using global physical activity questionnaire version 2: a cross-sectional study

Background: Physical activity has been determined as primary prevention strategy against 35 chronic conditions. Lack of physical activity, improper diet and increase in the use of computer has various health hazards. Considering that the bachelor of computer science students will mostly have sedentary work profile, once they enter the professional world, the objective of the present study was to assess their physical activity level using global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) version 2.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 355 participants, 244 males and 111 females, from an institution catering bachelors of computer science course using GPAQ questionnaire. The data was analyzed to see if they meet the criteria set by World Health organization (WHO) and were classified into categories on basis of MET minute/week. The average time spent in sitting position was also calculated.Results: At work, 19.15% study participants were moderately active; in travel domain 64.5% were active, in leisure domain 43.94% were vigorously while 41.4% were moderately active. 73.23% of study participants met the WHO set criteria. 26.76% participants were inactive, 62.53% low active, 10.14% moderate active while only 0.81% was highly active. Average time spent in sitting was around 9 hours.Conclusions: Even though 73.23% of study participants met the criteria, most of the participants had low level of physical activity, thus there is huge scope for improvement in it. They also need to be educated regarding the risks of sedentary behaviour which will further help to reduce the hazards related to physical inactivity.

Punjabi Adaptation of WHO’s Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in Gurumukhi Script: A Validity and Reliability Study

Background: WHO’s Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) has not yet been adapted in the Punjabi language. This study was aimed to adapt the GPAQ into the Punjabi language in Gurumukhi script and to make it useful for physical activity surveillance on Punjabi population. Methods: We translated the GPAQ-English into Punjabi language (Gurumukhi script) using the forward backward translation technique. A total of 81 adult participants including staff and students having good command over Punjabi and English languages were conveniently recruited from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India. The validity of the adapted version was tested against the original English version of GPAQ by applying Spearman’s rho. Test-retest reliability was tested by employing ICC coefficients. Results: GPAQ-P demonstrated good validity for total PA (rs = 0.877), work domain (rs = 0.815), transport domain (rs = 0.876), and moderate intensity PA (rs= 0.860); moderate validity for recreation domain (rs = 0.643) and sitting time (rs = 0.629); and low for vigorous intensity PA (rs = 0.466). Moderate to excellent reliability was detected between two administration of GPAQ-P, excellent intraclass coefficients for total PA (ICC = 0.918), work domain (ICC = 0.943), transport domain (ICC = 0.968), recreation domain (ICC = 0.952), and moderate intensity (ICC = 0.956); good ICC for vigorous intensity (ICC = 0.845) and moderate ICC for sitting time (ICC = 0.704). Conclusions: Punjabi adaptation of GPAQ in Gurumukhi script has good validity and reliability and it can be used for physical activity surveillance in Punjabi knowing population.

Adverse influence of multilevel socioeconomic status on physical activity: results from a national survey in Vietnam

BackgroundThis study aims to explore associations of individual- and provincial-level socioeconomic status (SES) and the combined interaction among these SES with individual physical activity (PA).MethodThis analyze used data of 3068 Vietnamese people aged 18–65 years from the national representative STEPS survey in 2015 (STEPS2015). The survey collected PA-related data using the Global PA Questionnaire Version 2 and those on provicial-level characteristics from two surveys in 2014, namely the Intercensal Population and Housing Survey (IPHS) and The Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VLSS2014). Multilevel linear analyze was performed with individual and provincial characteristics as independent variables and the metabolic equivalent (MET) score – the indicator of individual PA – as the dependent variable.ResultsMale and female participants with insufficient PA accounted for 20.2 and 35.7%, respectively. Both individual- and provicial-level SES were inversely associated with the individual PA level. As the provincial-level monthly income increased by 1 million Vietnam Dongs, the total PA score of individuals residing in that province reduced by 1900 METS. A buffering effect was reported between provincial and individual SES, as the provincial average income increased, the differences in PA scores between different SES groups decreased.ConclusionOur data suggest that Vietnamese individuals in low SES groups tended to be more physically active than those in high SES groups because their PA was largely related to work.

Relationship between subjective well-being and healthy lifestyle behaviours in older adults: a longitudinal study

Objectives: People who report better subjective well-being tend to be healthier in their daily behaviours. The objective of this study is to assess whether different components of subjective well-being are prospectively associated with different healthy lifestyle behaviours and to assess whether these associations differ by age.Method: A total of 1,892 participants aged 50+ living in Spain were interviewed in 2011–12 and 2014–15. Life satisfaction was measured with the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Positive and negative affect were assessed using the Day Reconstruction Method. Physical activity was assessed with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. The remaining healthy lifestyle behaviours were self-reported. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) models were run.Results: Not having a heavy episodic alcohol drinking was the healthy lifestyle behaviour most fulfilled (97.97%), whereas the intake of five or more fruits and vegetables was the least followed (33.12%). GEE models conducted over the 50–64 and the 65+ age groups showed that a higher life satisfaction was significantly related to a higher physical activity in both groups. Relationships between a higher negative affect and presenting a lower level of physical activity, and a higher positive affect and following the right consumption of fruits and vegetables and being a non-daily smoker, were only found in the older group.Conclusion: The relationship between subjective well-being and healthy lifestyle behaviours was found fundamentally in those aged 65+ years. Interventions focused on incrementing subjective well-being would have an impact on keeping a healthy lifestyle and, therefore, on reducing morbidity and mortality.

The descriptive epidemiology of sitting in Chilean adults: Results from the National Health Survey 2009–2010

BackgroundAlthough evidence on the health effects of sedentary behavior (SB) has grown systematically in recent years, few developing countries have reported population levels of SB, especially in South America. Our objective was to describe time spent sitting in a representative sample from Chile categorized by age, gender, educational level, and body mass index (BMI). MethodsA national health survey was conducted in Chile in a nationally representative sample (n = 5411) in 2009–2010. Sitting time (ST) was measured with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire Version 2. ResultsData were from 5031 participants (43.26 ± 0.41 years, mean ± SE; 40.3% male). Overall, there were no gender differences in mean ST (men: 158.10 ± 5.80 min/day, women 143.45 ± 4.77 min/day; p = 0.05). ST was lower in those who lived in rural areas compared with urban areas (99.4 min/day vs. 160.0 min/day; p = 0.001). ST increased significantly with increasing BMI, but only in men (p = 0.009), and was positively related to years of education in both men and women (p < 0.0001). ConclusionThe findings were different from those reported in other countries and contexts, reinforcing the need for international surveillance and monitoring over time to inform policy makers. Differences in ST across different groups emphasize the need to develop tailored messages and interventions for reducing ST in different population subgroups.

Physical activity levels and associated socio-demographic factors in Bangladeshi adults: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundLow level of physical activity (PA) has become an important public health problem even in low-income countries. The objectives of this study were to measure PA levels, determine the prevalence of low PA and identify socio-demographic factors associated with it in Bangladeshi adults.MethodsData from 792 (urban, 395; rural, 397) Bangladeshi adults (25–64 years) were included in this population-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2011. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAQ-2) was used to measure PA. The metabolic equivalent task (MET) in minutes per week was calculated to determine total PA. Participants were categorized into low, moderate and high PA groups. Logistic regression was used to assess socio-demographic factors associated with low level of PA.ResultsMedian MET-minute of total PA per week was almost double in the rural area (1720) than the urban area (960). The overall prevalence of low PA was 50.3% (95% CI: 46.8–53.8), urban 59.5% (54.7–64.3) and rural 41.9% (37.0–46.8). Women in general were more inactive (women 63.1% [58.3–67.9], men 39.3% [34.6–44.0]). The main contributions to total PA were from work (urban 40.0%, rural 77.0%) and active commute (57.0%, 21.0%). Leisure-time PA represented a very small proportion (<3.0%). Multiple logistic regressions found a significant association of urban residence (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.5–3.2), women (2.1; 1.4–3.9), oldest age group 55–64 years (15.6; 7.5–32.2) compared to youngest age group 25–34 years, graduation or further education (8.6; 4.1–17.7), and higher socio-economic class (2.4; 1.4–4.2) compared to poor with insufficient PA.ConclusionsThis study identifies low PA in a rural and urban population in Bangladesh and that further large-scale population studies are warranted.

Associations of sedentary behavior and physical activity with psychological distress: a cross-sectional study from Singapore.

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests the adverse association between sedentary behaviour (SB) with physical and mental health, but few studies have investigated the relationship between volume of physical activity and psychological distress. The present study examined the independent and interactive associations of daily SB and weekly level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with psychological distress in a multi-ethnic Asian population.MethodsDe-identified data of 4,337 adults (18–79 years old) on sedentary behaviors, physical activity patterns, psychological distresses, and other relevant variables were obtained from the Singapore Ministry of Health’s 2010 National Health Survey. Psychological distress was assessed using General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), whereas total daily SB and total weekly volume (MET/minutes) of MVPA were estimated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAQ v2). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to estimate the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the independent and interactive relationships of SB and MVPA with prevalence of psychological distress.ResultsThe category of high SB was positively associated with increased odds (OR = 1.29, 1.04-1.59) for psychological distress, whereas the category of active was inversely associated with lower odds (OR = 0.73, 0.62-0.86) for psychological distress. Multivariate analyses for psychological distress by combined daily SB and weekly MVPA levels showed inverse associations between middle SB and active categories (OR = 0.58, 0.45 - 0.74) along with low SB and active categories (OR = 0.61, 0.47-0.80).ConclusionsThe present population-based cross-sectional study indicated that in the multi-ethnic Asian society of Singapore, a high level of SB was independently associated with psychological distress and meeting the recommended guidelines for physical activity along with ≤ 5 h/day of SB was associated with the lowest odds of psychological distress.

Prevalence of physical inactivity in nine rural INDEPTH Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems in five Asian countries

Background: Physical inactivity leads to higher morbidity and mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke and heart disease. In high income countries, studies have measured the population level of physical activity, but comparable data are lacking from most low and middle-income countries.Objective: To assess the level of physical inactivity and its associated factors in selected rural sites in five Asian countries.Methods: The multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted in nine rural Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) sites within the INDEPTH Network in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Using the methodology from the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS), about 2,000 men and women aged 25–64 years were selected randomly from each HDSS sampling frame. Physical activity at work and during leisure time, and on travel to and from places, was measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2 (GPAQ2). The total activity was calculated as the sum of the time spent in each domain of activities in metabolic equivalent-minutes per week, and was used to determine the level of physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess demographic factors associated with a low level of physical activity.Results: The prevalence of physical inactivity ranged from 13% in Chililab HDSS in Vietnam to 58% in Filabavi HDSS in Vietnam. The majority of men were physically active, except in the two sites in Vietnam. Most of the respondents walked or cycled for at least 10 minutes to get from place to place, with some exceptions in the HDSSs in Indonesia and Thailand. The majority of respondents, both men and women, were inactive during their leisure time. Women, older age, and high level of education were significantly associated with physical inactivity.Conclusion: This study showed that over 1/4 men and 1/3 women in Asian HDSSs within the INDEPTH Network are physically inactive. The wide fluctuations between the two HDSS in Vietnam offer an opportunity to explore further urbanisation and environmental impacts on physical activity. Considering the importance of physical activity in improving health and preventing chronic NCDs, efforts need to be made to promote physical activity particularly among women, older people, and high education groups in these settings.

Development of the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)

The aim of developing the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was to have a tool that would produce valid and reliable estimates of physical activity, especially relevant to developing countries where patterns of energy expenditure differ from developed countries because people experience diverse ways of life. The development of a standardized tool to measure physical activity that enables comparisons across culturally diverse populations is a challenging task. Comparable, valid, and reliable information on physical activity enables countries to follow trends over time, understand regional and global comparisons, and better inform physical activity policy decisions. A WHO expert working group on physical activity measurement provided a draft GPAQ for global consultation. The draft instrument was validated in nine countries. Validation studies and qualitative feedback on GPAQ were presented at an Expert Meeting on Global Physical Activity Surveillance held jointly by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A second round of global consultation led to minor revisions and preparation of a final GPAQ version 2 instrument (GPAQv2). Around 50 developing countries are now using GPAQ for physical activity data collection. GPAQv2 is a suitable physical activity surveillance instrument for developing countries.